Department for Transport

M25: Surrey

Dr Ben Spencer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if his Department will require that Highways England ensure the work scheduled in 2020 to improve the road surface between junctions 10 and 11 of the M25 will include the replacement of all remaining road surface joints.

Rachel Maclean: Highways England understands noise is a concern for residents living close to the M25 between junctions 10 and 11 and it is actively looking for ways to reduce noise from the carriageways. In April 2020, Highways England started carrying out repairs to the failed joints on this section of the M25 and the work will be completed this summer. The work will concentrate on those joints which are in the poorest condition. Replacing joints which have not failed, or have already been repaired, would not reduce the noise from this concrete section or improve safety. Highways England carried out extensive joint repairs last year. Like all road surfaces, the concrete carriageway between junctions 10 and 11 is regularly monitored for safety and condition, and repairs are carried out when needed.

Driving under Influence: Training

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions he has had with representatives of the Joint Approvals Unit for Periodic Training on ensuring that people are able to undertake drink drive rehabilitation training during the covid-19 lockdown.

Rachel Maclean: In line with the Government’s guidance on social distancing, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has advised drink drive rehabilitation (DDR) course providers not to start any new classroom-based rehabilitation courses, until further notice. Offenders who have already taken the first, or first and second day of a three-day DDR course, can complete their course remotely on a suitable digital platform. The DVSA has been in discussions with representatives of the Joint Approvals Unit for Periodic Training on this matter.

Package Holidays: Coronavirus

Ronnie Cowan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on the number of people who received a cash refund for cancelled holidays within the required 14-day period as a result of the covid-19 pandemic; and if he will make a statement.

Kelly Tolhurst: The Government recognises the challenges businesses and consumers are experiencing regarding refunds for cancelled holidays and flights. We appreciate the distress and frustration consumers may be experiencing. The department does not hold this information, we are, however working closely with the sector, the regulator and consumer groups to help ensure airlines deliver on their commitments.

Ferries: Gosport

Mr Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to financially support Gosport ferry during the covid-19 outbreak.

Kelly Tolhurst: The Government has announced an unprecedented package of financial measures to support businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic, worth £350 billion. This includes providing local authorities with a total of £3.2bn to support the COVID-19 response to the pandemic at the local level. These wide-ranging measures are providing support for businesses of all sizes. My Department’s officials and I have been working closely with operators across the maritime sector, including Gosport Ferry Company, to understand how these Government’s COVID-19 support measures can be applied.

Transport: Coronavirus

Carla Lockhart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on (a) connectivity between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK and (b) other regional connectivity.

Kelly Tolhurst: Ministers and officials have been meeting frequently with their counterparts in Northern Ireland and the other Devolved Administrations to discuss matters of mutual concern and to develop plans as appropriate. In line with guidance issued by government to avoid non-essential travel, domestic public transport networks have amended services to reflect lower demand whilst keeping vital services running for those who are unable to work from home.

Large Goods Vehicles: Northern Ireland

Carla Lockhart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support he is providing to the logistics industry to help secure ferry places for (a) empty lorries travelling to Great Britain from Northern Ireland and (b) full lorries travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland during the covid-19 outbreak.

Rachel Maclean: The Government has made available £330 billion of support through loans and guarantees to support UK businesses. Changes have been made to some of the schemes to ensure that more businesses, particularly those that are SMEs like many road haulage companies, can benefit from them. The Department is aware of the issues faced by the logistics industry in Northern Ireland. That is why on 24 April we announced a package of funding to support the movement of critical goods on up to 31 RoRo freight routes, including between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Up to £17 million of funding will be available to support up to five routes over the next two months, with the Northern Ireland Executive contributing 40 percent. Officials continue to work closely with the Northern Ireland Executive to gather evidence on the scale of the problem and any further support needed.

Aviation: Coronavirus

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect that the proposal to impose a 14-day quarantine on inbound passengers will have on demand for air travel in and out of the UK.

Kelly Tolhurst: The aviation sector plays a key role in our future as a global trading nation, as well as playing a critical role in local economies. However, it is important that we actively manage the risk of imported cases of coronavirus being introduced to the UK from overseas. The Prime Minister set out in his speech on Sunday the need to ensure that we do not import new cases of Covid-19 as the UK’s R rate continues to decline. These measures, which we will be introducing later in the month as part of the Government’s overall efforts, will help keep transmission in the UK as low as possible. Further detail will be set out in due course. The challenges businesses are currently already facing are significant. This is particularly the case for the aviation sector, which has seen significant drops in demand over recent weeks. The Government is keen to see the sector return to normal operations as soon as possible so that it can support the UK economy in bouncing back from the impact of COVID-19. The Government continues to support businesses through one of the most generous economic packages provided anywhere in the world. In time, the aviation sector will begin to restart and recover, and we are exploring measures that could be deployed in the aviation sector to ensure the public can be confident that flying is a safe and healthy way of travelling. Any changed to our approach will be led by advice from SAGE and the Chief Medical Officer.

Department for Transport: Remote Working

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many staff in his Department have formal arrangements to work from home during the covid-19 outbreak.

Chris Heaton-Harris: As of 01 April 2020 the core department had 2,937 members of staff, of which 94% are able to work from home. The remaining 6% is made up of those who cannot work from home due to their frontline roles, those who require access to specialist equipment, or can’t work from home because of their living arrangements.

Roads: Coronavirus

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of the covid-19 lockdown on the condition of the highways network as a result of (a) maintenance and (b) new projects.

Rachel Maclean: The Department for Transport has written to highway authorities in England, outside London, and the wider highway sector, to highlight the importance of continuing with (a) maintenance and (b) new projects where works can be undertaken safely and in accordance with the Public Health England and relevant safety operating procedure guidance. It is for each highway authority to decide on what level of works can be undertaken, working closely with their contractors and supply chain.

Driving: Licensing

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when driving licenses depicting the flag of the European Union will cease to be issued.

Rachel Maclean: The UK left the European Union (EU) on 31 January and is now in a transition period until 31 December 2020, during which time existing arrangements remain unchanged. This means that UK driving licences will continue to include the EU flag for the duration of the transition period.

Taxis: Coronavirus

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on taxis and private hire drivers; and what steps his Department is taking to support that sector.

Rachel Maclean: The Department is aware of the issues being faced by the taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) sector and are working with the industry to understand the particular pressures they are facing. The Self-employment Income Support Scheme will allow taxi and PHV drivers to claim a taxable grant worth 80% of their trading profits up to a maximum of £2,500 per month for the 3-month period from April to June. This may be extended if needed. More information on the scheme is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme.

A63: Kingston upon Hull

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on traffic congestion of completing the proposed A63 Castle Street road improvement scheme.

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on air pollution of completing the proposed A63 Castle Street road improvement scheme.

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on the local economy of completing the proposed A63 Castle Street road improvement scheme.

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on port to port connectivity of completing the proposed A63 Castle Street road improvement scheme.

Rachel Maclean: The report and recommendation from the Examining Authority on the A63 Castle Street Improvement – Hull Development Consent Order Application is currently with the Secretary of State for a decision, which will be made by 31 May 2020. The Secretary of State will carefully consider the findings from the Examining Authority when making his decision.

Motor Vehicles: Hydrogen

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to facilitate the testing of hydrogen-fuelled road transport in the UK.

Rachel Maclean: While the global market for hydrogen vehicles is at an earlier stage of development than plug-in electric vehicles, the UK is well placed to be a leader in hydrogen and fuel cell powered transportation due to our high-quality engineering and manufacturing capability. Our approach to delivering long-term ambitions are technology neutral, supporting hydrogen where the market favours its use. The Government’s £23m Hydrogen for Transport Programme is increasing the uptake of fuel cell electric vehicles and growing the number of publicly accessible hydrogen refuelling stations. The programme is delivering new refuelling stations, upgrading some existing stations and deploying hundreds of new hydrogen vehicles. The £48m Ultra Low Emission Bus Scheme, and its predecessor the £41m Low Emission Bus Scheme supported hydrogen buses and refuelling infrastructure in London, Birmingham and Brighton.

Ferries: Coronavirus

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to assist British nationals stranded overseas with cars whose ferry journeys have been cancelled and who cannot fly home.

Kelly Tolhurst: My officials continue to work with FCO colleagues to monitor British Nationals travelling with cars/caravans in Spain and Portugal.

Aviation: Coronavirus

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he will take to ensure that airlines repay customer fares promptly where flights are cancelled in response to the covid-19 outbreak.

Kelly Tolhurst: The Government recognises the challenges businesses and consumers are experiencing regarding refunds for cancelled holidays and flights. Airlines are working hard to answer the high call volumes and to process the very large number of applications for refunds. We appreciate the frustration consumers may be experiencing. We are clear that refunds must be paid when asked for by the consumer. The Department for Transport is in regular conversation with UK airlines and wider membership bodies. The department is working closely with the sector, the regulator and consumer groups to help ensure airlines deliver on their commitments.

Airlines: Coronavirus

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support is available for the airline industry during the covid-19 outbreak; and what steps his Department is taking to encourage airlines to take that support rather than make staff redundant.

Kelly Tolhurst: The Chancellor has set out unprecedented support for workers of airline companies. Measures such as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme are being used across the aviation industry to protect the sector against the Covid-19 economic crisis. The Department has been regularly engaging with airlines at both official and Ministerial level to ensure available support is understood. If airlines find themselves in trouble as a result of coronavirus and have exhausted the measures already available to them, the Transport Secretary is clear that the Government is prepared to enter discussions with individual companies seeking bespoke support as a last resort, having exhausted all other options. Any intervention would need to represent value for money for taxpayers.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Members: Correspondence

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to respond to the letter dated 14 April 2020 from the hon Member for Perth and North Perthshire, reference PW10251.

Paul Scully: A reply was sent to the hon Member on 29 April.

Members: Correspondence

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to respond to the letter dated 3 April 2020 from the hon Member for Perth and North Perthshire, reference PW10093.

Paul Scully: A reply was sent to the hon Member on 4 May.

Competition and Markets Authority

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will strengthen the (a) investigatory, (b) enforcement and (c) regulatory powers of the Consumer and Markets Authority to enable that Authority to take more effective action against online (i) price gouging and (ii) misleading claims.

Paul Scully: The Competition and Markets Authority have created a COVID-19 taskforce to investigate consumer concerns in light of COVID-19. The CMA is writing to firms suspected of profiteering to challenge unjustifiable price increases and stands ready to take enforcement action where there is evidence that competition or consumer protection law has been broken. The Government continues to monitor the situation and is keeping all options under review to tackle these issues.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Office, what assessment her Department has made of the potential effect on businesses of staff (a) accruing paid holiday entitlement and (b) increasing their length of service while furloughed through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

Paul Scully: Under the Working Time Regulations 1998, almost all workers are entitled to 5.6 weeks annual leave, which should be paid as if workers were still at work and working. Annual leave continues to accrue as long as the worker maintains their employment relationship with their employer, which is the case whilst an employee is on a period of furlough through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. Regarding length of service, a furlough period is a variation to a worker’s contract of employment. The contract of employment would continue and count towards continuous employment. The Government has been clear that employment rights remain unchanged under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. Therefore, as holiday rights are unaffected by the scheme, and as being placed on furlough does not break the contract of employment, no assessment has been made.

Small Business Grants Fund

Sir David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many businesses have benefitted from the covid-19 Small Business Grant in (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency, (b) Bexley Borough, (c) London and (d) England.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Government has made £12.3 billion available to businesses under the Small Business Grants Fund and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund. Local authorities are contacting businesses directly to deliver these grants. As of 3 May, 696,970 business premises in England have received grants across the two schemes, totalling £8.595 billion, with more money delivered to businesses every day. In the London Borough of Bexley, grant payments have been made to 2,464 business premises, with a total number of 79,886 business premises benefiting from the two schemes in London. We do not hold information at constituency level, however, a full breakdown of grant funding allocated to and distributed by each local authority is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-grant-funding-local-authority-payments-to-small-and-medium-businesses. This breakdown is updated on a weekly basis.

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme

Sir David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent discussions his Department has had with the banking sector to ensure applications for the Business Interruption Loan Scheme are dealt with in a timely manner.

Paul Scully: The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) is part of a comprehensive package of support for SMEs. The Government held discussions with the banking industry prior to the launch of CBILS. The Business Secretary continues to hold a regular dialogue with the largest CBILS lenders to monitor its implementation. The Government has responded to feedback from stakeholders on CBILS, which includes the time taken by lenders to process applications, by:Removing the ability for lenders to ask for personal guarantees for loans under £250,000, and reducing the personal guarantee for loans over £250,000 to 20% of the outstanding balance after recoveries;Introducing technical changes to ensure that applications will be processed faster;Removing the forward-looking viability test; andRemoving the per lender portfolio cap. The Government will continue to monitor the scheme and introduce amendments as appropriate.

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the compatibility of lending (a) rules and regulations and (b) practice with ensuring that small businesses receive loans under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme.

Paul Scully: Individual lending decisions under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) are delegated to over 60 lenders accredited under the Scheme. These banks and other financial institutions are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and are required to comply with a number of regulations, including anti-money laundering and ‘know your customer’ rules, designed to combat fraud and other forms of financial crime. The majority of lenders also subscribe to voluntary Standards of Lending Practice overseen by the independent Lending Standards Board. These regulations and standards are compatible with ensuring that small businesses receive CBILS loans, as shown by the fact that as of 6 May, in total over £5.5 billion worth of loans have been issued under the scheme to 33,812 businesses. The new Bounce Back Loan Scheme launched on 4 May to help the smallest SMEs to access loans from £2,000 up to 25% of a business’ turnover, with maximum loan amount of £50,000. To apply for the scheme businesses will be able to complete a short, simple, online application form, meaning that applications can be submitted and processed rapidly and businesses can access loans within a matter of days.

Fireworks: Noise

Christian Wakeford: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps the Government is taking to (a) prevent and (b) tackle firework noise complaints during the covid-19 lockdown.

Paul Scully: The Government expects the public to use fireworks in a responsible and law-abiding way and to be considerate of their neighbours, particularly during the response to CoVid19. The law sets noise limits for fireworks, available for consumers to buy. There is also a curfew on their use between 11pm and 7am, except for 5th November, Diwali, New Year and Chinese New Year when this is extended to 12 am and 1 am. Local Authorities are continuing to deal with any noise complaints during this period including any caused by inconsiderate use of fireworks.

Fireworks: Noise

Christian Wakeford: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy what steps he is taking to establish lower noise level fireworks at (a) public events and (b) on private property.

Paul Scully: Existing legislation limits noise from fireworks available to consumers to a maximum of 120 decibels. The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has engaged with a wide range of views to develop a fact-based evidence base on the key issues that have been raised around fireworks including noise, as well as anti-social behaviour, non-compliance, environmental impact, and the impact on humans and animals. This builds a full picture of the data around fireworks in order to identify whether any further action is appropriate.

Fireworks: Sales

Christian Wakeford: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy what steps his Department is taking to restrict the availability of firework sales on high streets.

Paul Scully: The sale of fireworks is already restricted to seasonal periods unless a retailer is specifically licensed by their Local Authority to sell outside those periods. Without a licence, retailers can only sell fireworks from 15th October to 10th November; the 3 days prior to and including Chinese New Year, Diwali; and the 6 days up to and including New Year. There is also a ban on the sale of fireworks to any person under the age of 18. There are no plans for further restrictions.

Small Business Grants Fund: Coronavirus

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure that small businesses that have rateable values above the cap for the Small Business Grant Fund have fair access to covid-19 related grant funding.

Paul Scully: The Small Business Grant Fund is targeted support for small and rural businesses that have potentially been hit hardest by the measures taken to prevent the spread of Covid-19. The scheme has been tied to the existing business rates system to enable Local Authorities to make payments as quickly as possible. Businesses that are eligible for Small Business Rates Relief or Rural Rates Relief are eligible for support under the Small Business Grants Fund.We continue to look at the issues of businesses that aren’t in-scope of the existing grants schemes and how best to provide support. Where business operate from premises with a rateable value in excess of £15,000, other schemes including the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant or the recently announced Bounce Back Loan scheme might be more appropriate.On the 1 May 2020 the Business Secretary announced that a further up to £617 million is being made available to local authorities as a discretionary fund so that they can address cases that are out-of-scope from the Small Business Grants Fund and Retail Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund and this could allow local authorities to make grants to businesses above the rateable value cap of £15,000 subject to them meeting the eligibility criteria of the discretionary fund.

Small Businesses: Government Assistance

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what support the Government plans to provide to small firms without their own premises.

Paul Scully: On 1 May 2020, the Business Secretary announced that up to £617 million is being made available to Local Authorities in England to allow them to provide discretionary grants. This is an additional 5% uplift to the £12.33 billion funding previously announced for the Small Business Grants Fund (SBGF) and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund (RHLGF). The additional Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund is aimed at small businesses with ongoing fixed property-related costs but not liable for business rates or rates reliefs. We are asking local authorities to prioritise businesses in shared spaces, regular market traders, small charity properties that would meet the criteria for Small Business Rates Relief, and bed and breakfasts that pay council tax rather than business rates. Local Authorities are responsible for defining precise eligibility for this fund and may choose to make payments to other businesses based on local economic need, subject to those businesses meeting the specific eligibility criteria. Businesses already in receipt of the Small Business grant, a Retail, Hospitality and Leisure grant or Self-employed Income Support Scheme payment are not eligible. Eligible small businesses are also encouraged to seek support through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme and the Bounce Back Loan Scheme - support which is available to both tenants and landlords. Government has also introduced temporary new measures to further safeguard the high street and millions of jobs by helping to protect them from permanent closure through aggressive forms of rent recovery during this time. Statutory demands and winding up petitions issued to commercial tenants will be temporarily voided and changes have been made to the use of Commercial Rent Arrears Recovery, building on measures already introduced in the Coronavirus Act.

Postal Services: Coronavirus

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he had with representatives of Royal Mail on the decision to stop delivery of letters on Saturday and the effect of that decision on Royal Mail's statutory obligation to provide universal postal services.

Paul Scully: The Universal Service Obligation is set out in the Postal Services Act 2011. Ministers have no role in temporary changes to the service level. The regulatory conditions that require Royal Mail to deliver letters 6 days a week as part of the universal postal service also provide that Royal Mail is not required to sustain these services without interruption, suspension or restriction in the event of an emergency. Ofcom has acknowledged in this context that the COVID-19 pandemic is an emergency. There is a clear and transparent process for how longer-term changes to service standards would be considered and any changes would need to be made through secondary legislation and agreed by Parliament. Ministers and officials have regular discussions with Ofcom and Royal Mail on matters relating to postal services.

Small Business Grants Fund

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if his Department will extend eligibility for the Small Business Grant Fund to micro-enterprises that have a clear social purpose and reinvest the majority of their profits in that purpose.

Paul Scully: The Small Business Grant Fund and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund have been designed to support smaller businesses and some of the sectors which have been hit hardest by the measures taken to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Micro-enterprises with a social purpose are not excluded if they meet the eligibility criteria for the grants. On the 1 May 2020 the Business Secretary announced that a further up to £617 million is being made available to local authorities as a discretionary fund so that they can address cases that are out-of-scope from the Small Business Grants Fund and Retail Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund, including business sectors that weren’t previously covered and businesses that occupy space and pay rent and rates through a landlord.

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme

Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if his Department will expand the support available through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme to provide additional capital to social impact financiers.

Paul Scully: Accredited Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) lenders offer a wide range of business finance products including term loans, overdrafts, invoice finance and asset finance. Existing lenders range from high-street banks to challenger banks, asset-based lenders and specialist local lenders. Currently there are 15 accredited lenders that are Community Development Finance Institutions (CDFIs). In order to offer this scheme, finance providers must be accredited by the Government-owned British Business Bank. The British Business Bank has put in place substantial additional resource to accredit new CBILS lenders as quickly as possible, which will further widen the choice of finance options for smaller businesses.

Carbon Emissions

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he plans to publish the annual statement on emissions required under the Climate Change Act 2008.

Kwasi Kwarteng: The Annual Statement of Emissions for 2018 was laid in Parliament on 21st April 2020 and can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/annual-statement-of-emissions-for-2018.

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme

Owen Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what metrics he is using to measure the success of the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme.

Paul Scully: As of 6 May, in total over £5.5 billion worth of loans have been issued under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) to 33,812 businesses. Lenders have received 62,674 completed applications. Since launch, the Government has received feedback on how the scheme has been working. We are closely monitoring the implementation and working with the financial services sector to ensure that companies receive the full benefits from the support being provided. In order to assess how effectively the scheme is working, we are working with the British Business Bank, HM Treasury and lenders on regular and transparent data publication going forward.

Living Wage

Mhairi Black: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing the National Living Wage to at least the amount recommended by the Living Wage Foundation.

Paul Scully: The Government are committed to building an economy that works for everyone. Through the National Minimum Wage (NMW) and the National Living Wage (NLW), we are ensuring the lowest paid are fairly rewarded for their contribution to the economy. The Government considers the expert and independent advice of the Low Pay Commission (LPC) when setting the NMW rates. We reward workers with the highest possible minimum wage while considering the impact on the economy and affordability for businesses. As well as looking at living costs, the LPC draws on economic, labour market and pay analysis, independent research and stakeholder evidence.

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure that the British Business Bank's Borrower Viability Test does not prevent otherwise viable businesses from accessing the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme.

Paul Scully: In order for a business to be eligible for the CBILS, it must be considered “viable” by the lender prior to the onset of COVID-19. The lender must consider that the applicant (or its business group) has a viable business proposition determined by the lender’s underwriting policies. The viability test was amended in April to remove the requirement for lenders to include a ‘forward-looking’ element, which required an assessment of whether the business can trade out of the COVID-19 crisis. This means that any concerns over its short-to-medium term business performance due to the uncertainty and impact of COVID-19 cannot be taken into account when a lender is considering an application for a loan. For smaller value facilities (e.g. those of £30,000 or below), in determining the eligibility of the applicant, lenders may decide to determine the applicant’s credit worthiness based on its internal credit scoring models.

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing measures to tackle the difficulties that businesses that use holding companies for accounting purposes have encountered in passing the British Business Bank's Borrower Viability Test to access the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme.

Paul Scully: Individual lending decisions under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) are delegated to over 50 lenders accredited under the Scheme. The British Business Bank has issued clear guidance to all accredited lenders on assessing viability for CBILS. For example, it includes guidance on assessing group undertakings and Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs). It is for the individual lender to determine their own definition of a holding company based on this guidance.

Non-domestic Rates: Coronavirus

Caroline Ansell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether businesses not on the rates register but that pay rates through a landlord can access financial support through (a) the Small Business Grant Scheme or (b) other Government financial support schemes during the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.

Nadhim Zahawi: The Small Business Grant Fund and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund have been designed to support smaller businesses, as well as those sectors which have been hit hardest by the preventative lockdown measures due to Covid-19. On 1 May, the Business Secretary announced that up to £617 million is being made available to local authorities as a discretionary fund for businesses outside the scope of the Small Business Grants Fund and Retail Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund. This includes where small businesses occupy space and pay rent and rates through a landlord.  Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, we have monitored the performance of the business support schemes available, introducing necessary changes, including the recently announced Bounce Back Loans. Businesses can search for available support via the business support finder tool at: https://www.gov.uk/business-coronavirus-support-finder.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Remote Working

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many staff in his Department have formal arrangements to work from home during the covid-19 outbreak.

Nadhim Zahawi: The formal position for all 4,634 staff in the Department (excluding contingent workers) is to work from home. The Department has also made additional funding available to staff for the purchase of equipment to support them to work from home. Any requirements for essential work to be undertaken in one of the Department’s buildings are considered on a case by case basis, supported by an individual risk assessment and in line with Government guidance. Currently, there are less than 1% of staff working in the Department’s office on any given day.

Postal Services: Coronavirus

Alexander Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he he had with representatives of Royal Mail prior to the announcement by that organisation of the temporary suspension of Saturday deliveries during the covid-19 outbreak.

Paul Scully: The Universal Service Obligation is set out in the Postal Services Act 2011. Ministers have no role in temporary changes to the service level. The regulatory conditions that require Royal Mail to deliver letters 6 days a week as part of the universal postal service also provide that Royal Mail is not required to sustain these services without interruption, suspension or restriction in the event of an emergency. Ofcom has acknowledged in this context that the COVID-19 pandemic is an emergency. There is a clear and transparent process for how longer-term changes to service standards would be considered and any changes would need to be made through secondary legislation and agreed by Parliament. Ministers and officials have regular discussions with Ofcom and Royal Mail on matters relating to postal services.

Buildings: Carbon Emissions

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what funding he has allocated to supporting people to gain expertise and technical qualifications in retrofitting carbon inefficient buildings.

Kwasi Kwarteng: BEIS has not, thus far, provided direct funding for training or qualifications in building retrofit. The Department has, however, funded the development of improved design and installation standards and has created a market for individuals and businesses who install to those standards through the Energy Company Obligation.

Buildings: Carbon Emissions

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that carbon inefficient buildings are retrofitted.

Kwasi Kwarteng: Government has a number of policies and proposals to improve the energy performance of buildings, for example: Our current Energy Company Obligation (ECO) scheme and its successor will drive £6bn of additional investment to support energy improvements in low-income, vulnerable and fuel poor households between 2018 and 2028. The Private Rented Sector Minimum standard regulations introduced on 1 April 2018 will improve the energy performance of rented properties. The regulations require landlords of domestic and non-domestic rental properties to bring their properties to EPC Band E or above. We recently consulted on raising the minimum energy standards for non-domestic privately rented properties to meet a preferred target of EPC B by 2030, and plan to publish the Government Response later this year. We will consult on tightening the minimum energy standards for domestic privately rented properties in due course. We have committed to further consultations on introducing mandatory in-use energy performance ratings for non-domestic buildings; and on requirements for mortgage lenders to help households improve the energy efficiency of the homes they lend to. Public sector organisations can access the funding for decarbonisation projects, including certain retrofits through the Public Sector Energy Efficiency Loan Scheme. The capital pot for England stands at £312m as of the end of 2019/20 and is planned to increase to a total of £385 million by 2020/21.

Redundancy: Equality

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what plans the Government has to monitor redundancies by protected characteristics after the end of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

Paul Scully: The Government does not routinely monitor redundancy statistics by protected characteristics. However, when employers select employees for redundancy, they must comply with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010 and ensure that they do not unlawfully discriminate. There are also additional considerations that employers must take into account when redundancies affect women who are pregnant or on maternity leave. The Government continues to gather data, including through interactions with stakeholders, to understand the impacts of COVID-19 on all citizens, including groups with protected characteristics.

Small Businesses: Non-domestic Rates

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate his Department has made of the number of businesses in (a) Leeds, (b) Yorkshire and the Humber and (c) the UK that are ineligible for the Small Business rate relief as a result of paying business rates as part of their rent or through serviced office costs.

Paul Scully: Government has made £12.3 billion available to businesses under the Small Business Grants Fund and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund. The schemes have been tied to the business rates system to provide a framework for local authorities to make payments to businesses as quickly as possible as these businesses are likely to face particularly high fixed costs, such as fixed rents. As of 3 May, over 697,000 businesses in England have received grants under the two schemes, totalling £8.6bn. We do not hold data on the number of businesses that are not eligible for this grant funding. We have, however, published a full breakdown of grant funding allocated to and distributed by each local authority here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-grant-funding-localauthority-payments-to-small-and-medium-businesses. On 1 May, the Business Secretary announced a further up to £617 million available to local authorities to support small businesses previously outside the scope of the business grant funding, such as businesses in shared offices and regular market traders who do not have their own business rates assessment. For more details, please see: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/top-up-to-local-business-grant-funds-scheme.

Small Businesses: Non-domestic Rates

Richard Burgon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what estimate his Department has made of the number of people employed in businesses in (a) Leeds, (b) Yorkshire and the Humber and (c) the UK that are ineligible to receive funding through the Small Business rate relief as a result of their employers paying business rates as part of their rent or through serviced office costs.

Paul Scully: Government has made £12.3 billion available to businesses under the Small Business Grants Fund and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund. The schemes have been tied to the business rates system to provide a framework for local authorities to make payments to businesses as quickly as possible as these businesses are likely to face particularly high fixed costs, such as fixed rents. As of 3 May, over 697,000 businesses in England have received grants under the two schemes, totalling £8.6bn. We do not hold data on the number of people employed by businesses that are not eligible for this grant funding. We have, however, published a full breakdown of grant funding allocated to and distributed by each local authority here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-grant-funding-localauthority-payments-to-small-and-medium-businesses. On 1 May, the Business Secretary announced a further up to £617 million available to local authorities to support small businesses previously outside the scope of the business grant funding, such as businesses in shared offices and regular market traders who do not have their own business rates assessment. For more details, please see: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/top-up-to-local-business-grant-funds-scheme.

Self-employment Income Support Scheme

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether businesses that are eligible for the Self-employment Income Support Scheme will also be able to access the Top-up to local business grant fund scheme announced on 2 May 2020.

Paul Scully: On 1 May 2020 during a call to Local Authorities, the Government announced that a further up to £617 million is being made available to Local Authorities in England to allow them to provide discretionary grants as part of the suite of Business Support grants to support businesses and local economies across England. Businesses that have received Self-employment Income Support are not eligible for funding under the Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund.

Retail Trade: Coronavirus

Mr Stephen Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to engage with the retail sector on the ability of that sector to transition back to business as normal once the covid-19 lockdown measures are eased.

Paul Scully: We are in regular contact with a wide range of representatives of the retail sector.I host a weekly call with non-food retailers and business representative organisations covering a range of subjects including operational challenges faced by the sector as we transition to a new normal.The most recent call took place on 7th May and the next one is scheduled for 14th May.Government is grateful to retailers and representative organisations who are engaging constructively with Government on how retailers can safely operate as restrictions begin to ease.

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme

Rosie Duffield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many applications have been made to the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme; how many of those applications have been successful; and how much money has been allocated to successful applicants, as of 1 May 2020.

Paul Scully: As of 1 May 2020 over £4.7 billion worth of loans had been issued under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) to 29,496 businesses. As of 6 May 2020 over £5.5 billion worth of loans had been issued under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) to 33,812 businesses. Lenders have received 62,674 completed applications. The balance includes applications pending as well as those unsuccessful or abandoned.

Small Business Grants Fund

Sir Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether local authorities have discretion to make grants to a business under the Small Business Grant Scheme if the business is not registered with the Valuation Office Agency; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Scully: The Government has announced a package of support for businesses to help with their ongoing business costs in recognition of the disruption caused by Covid-19. This package of support includes the Small Business Grant Fund (SBGF). Businesses with a property that on the 11 March 2020 were eligible for Small Business Rate Relief (SBRR) Scheme or those businesses which on 11 March 2020 were eligible for relief under the Rural Rate Relief Scheme, will be eligible for the SBGF. The SBGF, alongside the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund, have helped supported many thousands of small businesses. In order to ensure that Local Authorities can help these businesses, on 1 May 2020 the Business Secretary announced that a further up to £617 million is being made available to Local Authorities in England to allow them to provide discretionary grants. This additional Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund is aimed at small businesses with ongoing fixed property-related costs but not liable for business rates or rates reliefs. It is our intention that the following businesses should be considered as a priority for these funds:Businesses in a range of shared workspaces;Regular market traders who do not have their own business rates assessment;B&Bs which pay Council Tax instead of business rates; andCharity properties in receipt of charitable business rates relief which would otherwise have been eligible for Small Business Rates Relief or Rural Rate Relief. Local authorities may choose to make payments to other businesses based on local economic need and subject to those businesses meeting the specific eligibility criteria.

Aviation: Volcanoes

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, for what reason the contract for the Meteorological Office Civil Contingency Aircraft is not being renewed; and what alternative arrangements his Department is making to (a) assess the risk and (b) mitigate the potential effect of future volcanic eruptions on the economy; and if he will make a statement.

Amanda Solloway: Due to the significant reduction in flying associated with Covid-19, the Met Office will not receive the expected funding for its aviation services through the airline charging mechanism and, in coordination with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), is reviewing and prioritising the aviation services it provides. Several options were considered in consultation with CAA and it was decided to not renew the current contract for the Met Office Civil Contingency Aircraft.Since the UK was last affected by volcanic ash in 2010, a number of significant improvements have been made in ash monitoring and modelling, which will help to improve forecasting in any future eruption scenario. This includes investment by the Government in a UK-wide LIDAR network, providing the capability to detect ash from the ground, and in improved satellite data on ash-cloud and particulate matter. In addition, the Met Office is exploring options for an interim standby aircraft with other European institutions and work has begun on options for a longer-term replacement airborne volcanic ash monitoring capability.The Met Office works very closely with the Icelandic Meteorological Office to monitor and assess the risk from volcanic activity. All volcanoes in Iceland are currently at colour state green, which means that activity is at normal levels.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Neil Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a furlough appeals process for employees to challenge the decision of their employer.

Paul Scully: The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is designed to help employers whose operations have been severely affected by coronavirus (COVID-19) to retain their employees and protect the UK economy. The scheme is not an employment right and it is up to the employer to decide who to furlough. However, employers should discuss furlough with their staff and make any changes to their employment contract by agreement. When employers make decisions in relation to the process – including deciding who to offer furlough to – equality and discrimination laws will apply in the usual way. Where employees believe employment law has been broken, they should first contact the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas). Acas provides free and impartial information and advice to individuals on all aspects of workplace relations and employment law. If the issue cannot be resolved through Acas’ conciliation services, employees can make a claim to an employment tribunal.

Small Business Grants Fund: Coronavirus

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, pursuant to the Answer of 4 May 2020 to Question 902140 on Small Business Grants Fund: Coronavirus, what additional support his Department is providing to local authorities to ensure grant funding is made available as quickly as possible.

Paul Scully: Government is providing a package of support for businesses and workers, in recognition of the disruption caused by Covid-19. This includes £12.3bn for local authorities to deliver to SMEs under the Small Business Grants Fund (SBGF) and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund (RHLGF). On 1 May, the Business Secretary announced a further up to £617 million available to local authorities to support small businesses previously outside the scope of the business grant funding. Government is working closely with all local authorities to help them make payments to businesses as quickly and effectively as possible, whilst safeguarding public funds. As part of this we have provided detailed guidance and FAQs, regular briefings and one-to-one support from ministers and officials. Government will also provide additional funding to local authorities to meet the administrative costs of delivering this policy.

Package Holidays: Coronavirus

Gavin Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure that consumers who were unable to travel on package holidays due to the covid-19 outbreak receive (a) a full refund or (b) a Government-backed transferable voucher equal to the amount paid.

Paul Scully: The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 protect consumers who have bought package holidays. Consumers are entitled to a refund if forced to cancel a package holiday due to unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances, which should be issued within 14 days, depending on the nature of the contract in place. Businesses in the sector are offering consumers vouchers or refund credit notes but acceptance must be the choice of the consumer who retains the right to a cash refund. Further information on the rights and responsibilities of consumers and businesses was published on 30 April by the Competition and Markets Authority who have also set up a covid-19 taskforce for consumers seeking refunds.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

India: Coronavirus

Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many British nationals stranded abroad in India as a result of the covid-19 outbreak who registered with his Department for flights to return to the UK were staying in the regions of (a) Punjab and (b) Gujarat.

Nigel Adams: Holding answer received on 27 April 2020



By 9 April, over 21,000 individuals had contacted the British High Commission in New Delhi to register their interest in returning to the UK. 9,982 of these individuals were located in Punjab and 3,316 were in Gujarat.As of 5 May, over 12,500 British nationals have returned from India on 53 HMG charter flights, including over 4,400 from Punjab and 3,000 from Gujarat. 7 additional charter flights from Amritsar (Punjab), due to run between 5 and 11 May, were announced on 30 April.

Muslim Brotherhood

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the global economic downturn on trends in the level of recruitment activity by the Muslim Brotherhood overseas.

James Cleverly: The British Government continues to take concerns about the Muslim Brotherhood seriously and keeps under review the activities undertaken by the Muslim Brotherhood's associates overseas. We monitor closely the risk that any movement might seek to take advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic to spread their influence, exploiting this unprecedented global health challenge to target vulnerable people and communities; and remain committed to combatting any groups which represent a threat to global security and stability.

Morocco: LGBT People

Alberto Costa: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the recent treatment of LGBT people in Morocco.

James Cleverly: We have seen reports about harassment of LGBT people in Morocco. The British Government is opposed to all forms of discrimination and committed to upholding the rights and freedoms of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in all circumstances all over the world.

Iran: Nuclear Power

Christian Wakeford: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 27 April 2020 to Question 37825, if Iran is now compliant with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action following the referral to the Joint Commission under the Dispute Resolution Mechanism of that Plan.

Christian Wakeford: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 27 April 2020 to Question 37825, whether there is a deadline for Iran to return to compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action under the Dispute Resolution Mechanism.

Christian Wakeford: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of  27 April 2020 to Question 37825, when his Department most recently raised Iran's non-compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with the governments of (a) Iran, (b) France, (c) Germany, and the US Administration.

James Cleverly: With France and Germany, we triggered the JCPoA Dispute Resolution Mechanism in January in response to Iran breaking key limits in the nuclear deal. We continue to work closely with the remaining parties to the deal, including Iran, to find a diplomatic way forward.

India: Coronavirus

Zarah Sultana: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many seats on each flight from Amritsar, India have been reserved for UK citizens who have been reported to his Department as vulnerable.

Nigel Adams: Holding answer received on 06 May 2020



The repatriation effort from India is a priority for the UK Government and is one of our largest Covid-19 repatriation operations, based on the number of British travellers there and the absence of commercial options. The scale of the challenge is immense. Over 12,500 people have already returned home on UK charter flights and we continue to work day and night to return more on daily flights from across India. 7 additional charter flights from Amritsar (Punjab), due to run between 5 and 11 May, were announced on 30 April. We reserve as many seats as possible on all flights for the most vulnerable British nationals - these are our top priority

British Nationals Abroad: Coronavirus

Zarah Sultana: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will publish information on the allocation of  the £75 million for the repatriation of UK citizens; and whether UK citizens that have incurred costs to repatriate themselves are eligible to apply for financial support.

Nigel Adams: Holding answer received on 06 May 2020



The British Government is working with the airline industry and host governments across the world to help bring back British travellers to the UK as part of the plan announced by the Foreign Secretary on 30 March - with up to £75 million available for special charter flights from priority countries, focused on helping the most vulnerable travellers. A proportion remains and the work is ongoing. We are determined that the cost of a flight will not be a barrier to bringing British travellers home but we are asking passengers to make a contribution so that we can put on as many flights and bring back as many people as possible. To set a limit on the costs to travellers, we have capped prices: for flights under 6 hours at £400; 6-10 hours at £600; and 10 hours + at £800 (using the airline industry's 'time in air' calculator). Costs above this amount are borne by the Government.We hope most travellers will be able to claim their costs from their travel insurance but for those British Nationals that cannot afford the cost of a flight to return, and have no other funding options, they may be eligible for financial support through an emergency loan from public funds.More details can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/financial-assistance-abroad/financial-assistance-abroad#if-you-need-financial-help-abroad

British Nationals Abroad: Coronavirus

Zarah Sultana: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make it his policy to repatriate UK citizens that have a relative in the UK that is in receipt of end-of-life care.

Nigel Adams: Holding answer received on 06 May 2020



We appreciate that this is an incredibly stressful time and that many British citizens are worried about family members in the UK. Helping British nationals who need and want to return to the UK is one of the Government's highest priorities. We will work as hard as possible to ensure that all those who need to get back to the UK can do so as quickly as possible. Our consular team is working around the clock to provide support, advice and information. Currently we are prioritising vulnerable British nationals most at risk from the effects of Coronavirus who normally live in the UK and are trying to return home. This remains our priority given the need to get stranded British nationals home.

Libya: Armed Conflict

Andrea Jenkyns: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the likelihood of a truce in the conflict in Libya.

James Cleverly: The Government is deeply concerned by the continuing fighting in Libya. All the signs are that, despite calls for a humanitarian truce, hostilities are continuing on all sides. We are clear that an enduring ceasefire and a return to UN-led political talks are the only means of achieving the peace and stability that most Libyans crave.

USA: Coronavirus

Sir Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to reach a reciprocal agreement with the United States to ensure that UK citizens in that country whose visas have expired or are about to expire are granted the same concessions as those enjoyed, for the duration of the covid-19 pandemic, by US citizens visiting the UK.

Wendy Morton: The UK is in regular contact at the highest levels with our US partners on our joint response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, including discussions on how to enable travelling nationals to return home where necessary.For UK citizens in the US on non-immigration visas, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) are accepting timely extension of stay (EOS) or change in status (COS) applications. The granting of either status will allow UK citizens whose visas have expired to lawfully remain in the US for an agreed period of time. More information can be found on the USCIS website.UK citizens currently in the US on an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) visa are able to apply for Satisfactory Departure from the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This discretionary authority permits USCIS and CBP to extend an ESTA admission for a period not to exceed 30 days.

China: South China Sea

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Chinese counterpart on the harassment of the West Capella, a ship operated by a UK-registered company.

Nigel Adams: The British Government's position is to oppose any action which raises tensions in the South China Sea. We regularly make this position clear to the Chinese authorities and encourage all parties, including China, to settle their disputes peacefully through the existing legal mechanisms, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and to uphold existing Arbitration rulings.

Colombia: Peace Negotiations

Dan Carden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with his Colombian counterpart on peace talks with the National Liberation Army; and if he will make a statement.

Wendy Morton: The UK remains extremely concerned about the continued activity of illegal armed groups in Colombia, including the National Liberation Army (ELN), and the impact their violence has on Colombian society - even more so at this challenging time. We noted the unilateral ceasefire declared by the ELN on 30 March at a UN Security Council meeting on 14 April and hoped it would facilitate efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as potentially representing a positive step towards peace. We regret that this ceasefire has not been renewed by the ELN.The UK has reaffirmed its unwavering support to the Colombian authorities as they seek to ensure sustainable peace in Colombia, and has reiterated the importance of pressing ahead with work to consolidate peace and build stability. At the same time, the UK, alongside international partners, has continued to urge the ELN to end its campaign of violence and to play a part in bringing an end to this conflict.The UK has been vocal in expressing our concern about the effect the activity of armed groups has on the future of peace in Colombia. We regularly raise these issues with the Colombian Government and in multilateral fora. Most recently, our Permanent Representative to the United Nations spoke on this issue at the UN Security Council on 14 April, and we consistently press the Colombian Government to focus on extending the rule of law to all parts of the country.

British Nationals Abroad: Coronavirus

Abena Oppong-Asare: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what criteria the Government uses to prioritise the repatriation of constituents stranded overseas.

Nigel Adams: The UK Government is working with the airline industry and host governments across the world to help bring back British travellers to the UK as part of the plan announced by the Foreign Secretary on 30 March - with up to £75 million available for special charter flights from priority countries, focused on helping the most vulnerable travellers.We will prioritise vulnerable British nationals most at risk from the effects of Coronavirus who normally live in the UK and are trying to return home for these flights, together with their families who normally live with them in the UK. We are giving additional consideration to the local context and the situation of the individual themselves, this can include lock-down processes in country, access to reliable healthcare, possible reduction in access to routine medication, and those at additional risk if they contract the virus for example the elderly or those with pre-existing medical conditions.In many countries, commercial flights have also continued to operate and have been able to return British nationals to the UK. We are working with host governments to keep flights running and airspace open where possible for this to continue to happen.

Europe Day

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what plans the Government has to mark Europe Day 2020.

Wendy Morton: As the UK is no longer a member of the European Union we have no plans to mark Europe Day.

British Nationals Abroad: Coronavirus

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with his counterparts in (a) Philippines, (b) Turkey and (c) New Zealand on facilitating the repatriation of UK nationals from those countries.

Nigel Adams: The UK is grateful for the continued support of our international partners. Their assistance in flying our citizens home and keeping flight routes running by keeping key transit hubs open to air traffic, are invaluable to our efforts to repatriate British nationals.We are in regular contact with the Government of the Philippines on the repatriation of British nationals. This engagement has been critical to our efforts to repatriate approximately 1100 British Nationals from the Philippines, including via two UK charter flights. The Foreign Secretary spoke to Foreign Minister Locsin on 31 March. I also spoke to Foreign Minister Locsin on 26 April to finalise planning for the second UK charter flight to bring British nationals home. We are supporting all remaining BNs with information on commercial flights and keeping the option of a third charter flight under review.We have regular discussions with the Turkish authorities on these issues, both through our Embassy in Turkey and through Ministerial contact. The Minister for the European Neighbourhood and Americas, most recently discussed the repatriation of British nationals with her Turkish counterpart on 21 April. We are working hard with Turkey to ensure that British nationals in Turkey can return to the UK using the remaining commercial flights as soon as possible.The Foreign Secretary spoke to New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, on 30 April. The Foreign Secretary thanked him for New Zealand's support in facilitating the five charter flights which have returned over 1500 British nationals to the UK and asked for his continued support for a further three charter flights scheduled to begin on 11 May.

Majid Esmailzadeh and Shayan Saeedpour

Mr David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his Iranian counterpart on the execution of juvenile offenders Shayan Saeedpour and Majid Esmailzadeh.

James Cleverly: We are deeply concerned by the reports of the executions of these two juvenile offenders. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights stated these executions are prohibited under international human rights law and has violated the International Convention on the Rights of the Child which Iran had signed up to. The UK regularly raises human rights with the Iranian authorities at all levels and we continue to take action with the international community to press Iran to improve its poor record on all human rights issues.

South Asia: Coronavirus

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many UK nationals registered an interest by the close of registration on 19 April 2020 to return to the UK as a result of the covid-19 pandemic from (a) India, (b) Pakistan and (c) Bangladesh; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many of those UK nationals who had registered by 19 April 2020 to return to the UK from (a) India, (b) Pakistan and (c) Bangladesh were categorised as vulnerable by Corporate Travel Management; and if he will make a statement.

Nigel Adams: India, Pakistan and Bangladesh are priorities for the UK Government and we have been working closely with the government of each country and airlines to ensure British nationals can return home. We cannot provide an accurate figure for those currently registered for Her Majesty's Government charter flights because many passengers have registered more than once, have already returned by commercial flights or no longer want to return to the UK.We reserve as many seats as possible on all flights for the most vulnerable British nationals - these are our top priority. We will continue working to bring British nationals back to the UK where commercial options do not exist, focusing on the most vulnerable. We are still working through future plans, identifying where needs are greatest, and where charter flights will have the greatest impact on vulnerable British nationals overseas.

Bangladesh: Rohingya

Stephen Kinnock: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to ensure that the Government of Bangladesh works with the international community to offer safe haven to the Rohingya refugees stranded at sea in the Bay of Bengal.

Nigel Adams: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Taliban: Peace Negotiations

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5 May 2020 to Question 41027 on Taliban: Peace Negotiations, what discussions he has with his German counterpart on the formation of the US negotiating position in the US-Taliban peace negotiations.

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5 May 2020 to Question 41027 on Taliban: Peace Negotiations, what discussions he had with his French counterpart on the formation of the US negotiating position in the US-Taliban peace negotiations.

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5 May 2020 to Question 41027, what discussions he had with the Secretary of General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, on the formation of the US negotiating position in the US-Taliban peace negotiations.

Nigel Adams: We engaged intensively with the United States, Afghan Government and our NATO allies and partners in the run-up to and throughout the bilateral talks between the US and the Taliban in Doha. The US-Taliban agreement was a positive step, but it was also the first step in a long and difficult road towards peace. Our UK diplomatic commitment is helping push towards a sustainable and inclusive peace process, the only route to lasting peace and security in Afghanistan.

*No heading*

Mhairi Black: What steps he is taking with his international counterparts to ensure that states use their emergency powers proportionately during the covid-19 pandemic.

Wendy Morton: The UK is playing a major role in the global response as we galvanise support for our Four-Point Plan: 1) co-ordinating the global health response; 2) accelerating the search for a vaccine, treatments and testing; 3) securing a sound economic response; and 4) bringing our people home.The Foreign Secretary and Ministerial team are carrying out extensive bilateral and multilateral engagement, including with G7/G20 counterparts, and working with international companies to tackle the crisis.We are also working closely with UN Security Council members and the UN Secretary-General to address pandemic and secondary impacts, including instability.Through our international engagement, we have repeatedly made clear that measures taken by States to tackle CV19 must be necessary, proportionate, time-bound, transparent and regularly reviewed.

*No heading*

Mr Ben Bradshaw: What recent diplomatic steps he has taken with his overseas counterparts to tackle the covid-19 pandemic.

Wendy Morton: The UK is playing a major role in the global response as we galvanise support for our Four-Point Plan: 1) co-ordinating the global health response; 2) accelerating the search for a vaccine, treatments and testing; 3) securing a sound economic response; and 4) bringing our people home.The Foreign Secretary and Ministerial team are carrying out extensive bilateral and multilateral engagement, including with G7/G20 counterparts, and working with international companies to tackle the crisis.We are also working closely with UN Security Council members and the UN Secretary-General to address pandemic and secondary impacts, including instability.Through our international engagement, we have repeatedly made clear that measures taken by States to tackle CV19 must be necessary, proportionate, time-bound, transparent and regularly reviewed.

*No heading*

Mr Tobias Ellwood: What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the UN Security Council in tackling the covid-19 pandemic.

Wendy Morton: The UK is playing a major role in the global response as we galvanise support for our Four-Point Plan: 1) co-ordinating the global health response; 2) accelerating the search for a vaccine, treatments and testing; 3) securing a sound economic response; and 4) bringing our people home.The Foreign Secretary and Ministerial team are carrying out extensive bilateral and multilateral engagement, including with G7/G20 counterparts, and working with international companies to tackle the crisis.We are also working closely with UN Security Council members and the UN Secretary-General to address pandemic and secondary impacts, including instability.Through our international engagement, we have repeatedly made clear that measures taken by States to tackle CV19 must be necessary, proportionate, time-bound, transparent and regularly reviewed.

Department of Health and Social Care

Ventilators

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what procedures his Department is using with (a) skilled academics and (b) engineers to select innovative ventilator designs during the covid-19 outbreak.

Edward Argar: The ventilator challenge work is being undertaken and managed by the Cabinet Office.The Prime Minister’s call to manufacturers on 16 March had an overwhelming response, with over 5,000 United Kingdom and international businesses offering to help provide services, including designing and building new devices, manufacturing components or transporting them to National Health Service hospitals.Following this, the Government has partnered a number of the UK’s leading technology and engineering firms with smaller manufacturers to rapidly build existing, modified or newly designed ventilators at speed, with seven priority projects underway.Officials are currently working with expert clinicians and health regulators to test all new machine designs, as patient safety is of paramount importance. Any new orders are all dependent on machines passing regulatory tests, but the Government, manufacturers and regulators are working at pace to drive this work forward.

Ventilators: Imports

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help secure the import of medical ventilators during the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Argar: We have been working rapidly to secure additional ventilator capacity through established United Kingdom suppliers and from overseas. The Joint Action Coordination Team was established, which works across the Department for International Trade and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to provide support and assistance for all international procurement work.The Government is doing everything it can to ensure the National Health Service and care workers have the equipment and support they need to tackle this outbreak. Our overseas diplomatic network is engaged in a massive international procurement effort underway to buy the additional medical equipment the NHS needs. Almost 900 ventilators from overseas have arrived since March. They have been bought or donated from China, the United States, Germany, and Taiwan. Thousands more are due to arrive over the coming weeks.

Ventilators: Imports

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with Ministers of the Department of International Trade to help secure imports of medical ventilators during the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Argar: We have been working rapidly to secure additional ventilator capacity through established United Kingdom suppliers and from overseas. The Joint Action Coordination Team was established, which works across the Department for International Trade and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to provide support and assistance for all international procurement work.The Government is doing everything it can to ensure the National Health Service and care workers have the equipment and support they need to tackle this outbreak. Our overseas diplomatic network is engaged in a massive international procurement effort underway to buy the additional medical equipment the NHS needs. Almost 900 ventilators from overseas have arrived since March. They have been bought or donated from China, US, Germany, and Taiwan. Thousands more are due to arrive over the coming weeks.

Coronavirus: Testing

Kenny MacAskill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down is evaluating antibody tests for covid-19; whether those tests contain antibodies derived from animals; and what steps his Department is taking to use non-animal alternatives to antibody production.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) is part of the Ministry of Defence. The Dstl is evaluating commercial antibody test kits from around the world, in support of the Department of Health and Social Care.Evaluation of tests and their contents is ongoing.

NHS Trusts: Ventilators

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many new ventilators have been (a) procured and (b) delivered to NHS trusts in response to the covid-19 pandemic.

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many additional ventilators have been provided (a) in total and (b) to each NHS Trust since 31 January 2020.

Edward Argar: At the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in March there were more than 8,000 mechanical ventilators in hospitals across the United Kingdom. As of 4 May, we have around 10,900 mechanical ventilators available to National Health Service patients. In addition, there are also 6,291 non-invasive ventilators available to the NHS across the UK which were not available before the start of the crisis in mid-March plus a further 73 from the private sector.These figures will continue to rise as we procure further equipment and more products from the Prime Minister’s ventilator challenge become available.Mechanical ventilators are allocated pro rata between England and the devolved administrations, but then within each nation decisions of where to send ventilators are based on clinical need. In England hospitals can make a bid for ventilators and these are discussed and allocated with regional NHS England and NHS Improvement teams. Details can be found at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2020/04/C0233-ventilator-consumables-8-april.pdfThe following table shows the distribution of the new mechanical ventilators to date. Mechanical Ventilators dispatched from Donnington Warehouse as of 4 May 2020  (this excludes those still in warehouses and those made and held by the private sector)LocationNumber of Mechanical VentilatorsAiredale General Hospital2Basildon University Hospital10Countess of Chester Hospital5East Surrey Hospital5Essex and Herts Air Ambulance1Gloucester Royal Hospital1Guernsey8Isle of Man3Jersey5Kings Mill Hospital2Leighton Hospital7Lister Hospital2London Ambulance Service19London NHS Nightingale168Manchester General Hospital5Manchester Royal Infirmary9North Manchester General Hospital3Northern Ireland28Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust1Royal Lancaster Infirmary2Royal Oldham Hospital3Royal Papworth Hospital54Scotland77South Central Amublance2Southport General Hospital8St George’s University Hospital Foundation Trust4St Mary’s Hospital5Tameside General Hospital8UK Overseas Territories11Wales46NHS London (for onward distribution)125Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust3Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust6Harrogate NHS Nightingale7South West Region (for onward distribution)5Bristol NHS Nightingale9North East NHS Nightingale2Warwick Hospital2Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust2Grand Total665

Care Homes: Coronavirus

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of patients who have been discharged from hospitals to care homes in (a) Birmingham, (b) the West Midlands and (c) England have been tested for covid-19 in each of the last 12 weeks.

Edward Argar: Data is not available in the format requested.

Ventilators: Business

Meg Hillier: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to Answer of 21 April 2020 to Question 34931 on Medical equipment: business, whether (a) his Department and (b) NHS England approached businesses to produce additional ventilators for the NHS between 1 December 2019 and 13 March 2020.

Edward Argar: Holding answer received on 27 April 2020



At the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in March there were more than 8,000 mechanical ventilators in hospitals across the United Kingdom. These were mainly procured by National Health Service trusts through NHS Supply Chain which manages a framework contract with a number of manufacturers for the supply of mechanical ventilators into the NHS.In March the decision was taken to move to a centralised model of procurement for the whole of the UK. All suppliers of non-invasive and invasive (mechanical) ventilators on the NHS Supply Chain framework were approached between 3 and 10 March, with a view to purchase any available ventilators. So far over 1,000 mechanical ventilators have been procured and made available to the NHS in the UK through this route, with thousands more on order and due to arrive in coming weeks.These are in addition to ventilators made available from the private sector and those manufactured under the PM’s Ventilator Challenge programme. Including these, the NHS in the UK now has around 10,900 mechanical ventilators available for it to use in total.

Ministerial Responsibility

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which departmental decisions have been subject to a ministerial direction in 2020.

Edward Argar: Ministerial Directions are published on GOV.UK. A Ministerial Direction was published on 30 March 2020 which authorised spend on urgent COVID-19 issues by the Department and its arm’-length bodies. This can be found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-ministerial-direction-on-spend

Respite Care: Coronavirus

Rosie Duffield: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his Department's policy to allow people in a supported living setting to take their planned respite with their families during the covid-19 outbreak.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 29 April 2020



We know how beneficial it can be for people in supported living settings to see and spend time with their families. However, it is important that they continue to follow the current social distancing guidelines, in addition to the shielding advice for vulnerable groups where this applies. We are engaging with stakeholders to ensure relevant guidance appropriately considers the needs of those in supported living.Social distancing guidelines are available at the following link:www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people/guidance-on-social-distancing-for-everyone-in-the-uk-and-protecting-older-people-and-vulnerable-adults Shielding advice for vulnerable groups is available at the following link: www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

Care Homes: Food Supply

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions his Department has had with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to help ensure that care homes have adequate food supplies during the covid-19 outbreak.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care, the Cabinet Office and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have worked with the Federation of Wholesale Distributors to provide a new, online platform, Food2Care, to allow social care providers to access food supplies direct from wholesalers operating in their area. More than 90 national and regional wholesalers have signed up to the scheme so far from across the country. The scheme has been welcomed by the Care Provider Alliance.

Coronavirus: Social Services

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the number of social care workers that have (a) tested positive for covid-19 and (b) are taking time off work with suspected covid-19.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 29 April 2020



As of 26 April 2020, 34,000 care workers have been referred for testing. NHS England’s Capacity Tracker includes any posts that are not currently filled, alongside staff members who are off-sick or self-isolating at that point in time. The Government therefore does not currently collect disaggregated data on the number of care workers who are taking time off with suspected COVID-19.

NHS: Coronavirus

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the Health and Safety Executive on the safety of NHS workplaces in the last two months due to the covid-19 outbreak.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Holding answer received on 29 April 2020



The Department has agreed with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) that National Health Service and social care employers will be reminded of the requirement to report dangerous occurrences, cases of disease and work-related fatalities to the HSE under RIDDOR (The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013) regulations.

Carers: Coronavirus

Olivia Blake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) people who are financially responsible for the care of a friend or relative continue to be able to pay in the event of a reduction in their income as a result of the covid-19 outbreak and (b) people in receipt of care do not experience a disruption to the service as a result of a temporary inability to meet the cost of care.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 04 May 2020



Under the Care Act 2014, charging for care is based on a number of principles including that people should not be charged more than it is reasonably practicable for them to pay.Local authorities provide means-tested financial help to pay for care and support where a person cannot afford the cost themselves. The financial assessment takes into account what a person can afford from both their income and their assets, for example savings or property. Individuals can ask their local authority for a reassessment following a change in their circumstances.If top-up payments are being provided by a third party, if the arrangements for a ‘top-up’ were to fail for any reason, the local authority would need to meet the cost or make alternative arrangements, subject to a needs assessment.

Care Homes: Coronavirus

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what preventive plans he put in place to protect elderly residents in the care home sector from covid-19; and on what date each plan was introduced.

Helen Whately: The Government, working with the sector and public health experts, has published a range of guidance on GOV.UK to protect residents in the care home sector from COVID-19. Details of published guidance, publication dates and information on updates is shown in the attached table.We are constantly reviewing our guidance in line with scientific advice. 



40464 table
(Word Document, 20.68 KB)

Hereditary Diseases

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent progress his Department has made on research into the treatment of mitochondrial disease.

Helen Whately: The Department’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) supports three Biomedical Research Centres (BRC) and two Clinical Research Facilities that are carrying out research on mitochondrial disease. This includes a project from the NIHR BRC in Great Ormond Street on novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for mitochondrial disorders.The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including mitochondrial disease; it is not usual practice to ring-fence funds for particular topics or conditions. Applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality.

Life Sciences: Clinical Trials

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to support the life sciences sector in restarting clinical trials paused due to covid-19 outbreak; and on what date he plans to announce those plans.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 04 May 2020



The Department funds and supports research through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) has paused the site set up of new or ongoing studies at National Health Service and social care sites that are not nationally prioritised COVID-19 studies. This is to enable the NIHR CRN research workforce to focus on delivering nationally prioritised COVID-19 studies or enabling redeployment to frontline care where necessary. The NIHR is currently considering how to re-start paused studies that are funded or supported by the NIHR CRN in a way which will protect the continued delivery of nationally prioritised COVID-19 studies, which are an essential part of the Government response to the ongoing pandemic. It is engaging with research funders, including industry, and NHS Research and Development departments in formulating these plans. The NIHR will publish plans on re-starting paused studies in due course.

NHS: Voluntary Work

Ian Paisley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have signed up to volunteer through the NHS Volunteer Responders scheme to date.

Helen Whately: Over 750,000 people have signed up to the NHS Volunteers Responders programme in England against an initial ask of 250,000 volunteers. 607,054 volunteers have completed the necessary identity checks to begin helping those most vulnerable, more than double the original target. As of 28 April, 63,683 tasks have been completed by volunteers. The programme is now accepting self-referrals and hon. Members are also able refer vulnerable people to the programme to receive support from the NHS Volunteer Responders. This can be done by completing an online referral form via the Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) website or by calling the RVS call centre.

Social Services: Coronavirus

Mr Clive Betts: To the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, which local authorities have introduced Care Act easements; on what date those local authorities did so; and what level of easements have been applied by those local authorities.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 04 May 2020



As of 30 April 2020, the Department has received notification from Sunderland City Council on 31 March, Derbyshire County Council on 9 April, Birmingham City Council on 14 April, Warwickshire County Council on 16 April, Staffordshire County Council on 17 April, Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council on 18 April and Coventry City Council on 28 April. Middlesbrough Council introduced easements on 14 April but has since notified the Department that they ceased to operate under easements on 22 April.Local authorities must notify the Department when they decide to operate under easements, but are not required to notify the Department of what level of easements have been applied.

Pneumoconiosis

Alexander Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have been diagnosed with pneumoconiosis in (a) England, (b) Yorkshire, (c) the borough of Rotherham and (d) Rother Valley constituency in the last calendar year.

Helen Whately: The information is not available in the format requested.

Bronchitis

Alexander Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have been diagnosed with chronic bronchitis in (a) England, (b) Yorkshire, (C) the borough of Rotherham and (d) Rother Valley constituency in the last calendar year.

Helen Whately: The information is not available in the format requested.

Asbestosis

Alexander Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people have been diagnosed with asbestosis in (a) England, (b) Yorkshire, (c) the borough of Rotherham and (d) Rother Valley constituency in the last calendar year.

Helen Whately: The information is not available in the format requested.

Social Services

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to issue guidance for local authorities on (a) how and (b) when local authorities should (i) reverse and (ii) restore any Care Act easements used.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 04 May 2020



The Department worked with stakeholders to develop guidance for local authorities on Care Act easements. Local authorities should reverse Care Act easements when they are able to comply with their Care Act duties in full. The easements are time limited and should be used as narrowly as possible. All assessments and reviews that are delayed or not completed must be followed up and completed in full once the easements are terminated. The Department will consider whether it is necessary to issue any further guidance.

Social Services

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to publish a register of local authorities that have declared and used Care Act easements in response to the covid-19 outbreak.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 04 May 2020



The Department has worked with partners to publish a list of local authorities that have notified the Department of their use of Care Act easements. This is updated daily at the following link:www.cqc.org.uk/CareActEasements

Kidneys: Transplant Surgery

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the financial effect of the reduction of kidney transplants and associated increase in dialysis treatment as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

Helen Whately: NHS England, NHS Improvement and NHS Blood and Transplant have been working closely together to ensure that organ donation and transplant activity could safely continue during the COVID-19 pandemic for very urgent life-saving transplants. A few kidney transplants are taking place on most days. Patients waiting for a kidney transplant are able to receive dialysis as a short-term alternative treatment.At this time, no financial assessment has been made of the impact of the changes to transplant and dialysis numbers.

Kidneys: Transplant Surgery

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effect of kidney patients not receiving a transplant due to the covid-19 outbreak on (a) one year and (b) five year survival rates.

Helen Whately: No assessment has yet been made. However, NHS Blood and Transplant is actively collecting data on the impact of COVID-19 for those patients on a waiting list for a kidney transplant, or for those who had received a transplant, and who had then contracted COVID-19. Similarly, the Renal Registry has been keeping the relevant data for dialysis patients. Early data show that both dialysis patients and those who are immunosuppressed for a kidney transplant are more vulnerable to the COVID-19.NHS England, NHS Improvement and NHS Blood and Transplant do routinely monitor, and report on, the outcome data for all organ recipients and patients on the waiting list including one and five-year survival rates.

Coronavirus: Kidney Diseases

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effect of reduced kidney dialysis frequency due to the covid-19 outbreak on those patients’ (a) survival rates, (b) transplant suitability and (c) mental well-being.

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS renal units have reduced the frequency of dialysis treatments for renal patients as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

Helen Whately: An assessment has not been made and figures are unavailable.The ‘Covid-19 Rapid Guideline: dialysis service delivery’, published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), sets out guidance for clinicians to maximise the safety of patients on dialysis during the pandemic. It contains guidance on continuing, where safe and necessary, dialysis provision at home and in dialysis units, while making the best use of National Health Service resources and matching the capacity of dialysis services to patient needs if these become limited, or the schedule is altered, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. If changes to the dialysis schedule are needed, decisions regarding the needs of individual patients should be made on a case by case basis. The guidance also highlights the importance of communicating with patients and supporting their mental wellbeing to help alleviate any anxiety and fear they may have about COVID-19. Renal-service providers should establish a multi-professional operational team that has plans for contingency staffing, agreed pathways to ensure safe provision of dialysis, senior team oversight and clear links with provider COVID-19 planning. Providers should work in partnership with commissioning teams within the region. The NICE guidance is can be found at the following link: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng160/resources/covid19-rapid-guideline-dialysis-service-delivery-pdf-6614189403104

NHS: Diversity

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the number of diversity and inclusion managers employed in the NHS.

Helen Whately: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 28 April 2020 to Question 37608.

Hospices: Protective Clothing

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is  taking to help ensure children's hospices have access to the personal protective equipment for providing palliative care to (a) children and (b) their families in (i) hospices and (ii) other community settings during the covid-19 outbreak.

Helen Whately: The Department is actively taking steps to ensure that staff operating in the hospice sector, including children’s hospices, can access adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) to continue to provide palliative care to children and their families during this challenging period.To support this, and working with key stakeholders, NHS England and NHS Improvement have developed a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for palliative care for children and young people in community and hospice settings during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is due to published shortly, and will contain guidance on the appropriate use of PPE for the care and treatment of this vulnerable group of patients.To address supply concerns, central delivery points provided by children’s hospices to the Department will get weekly drops of PPE until they are added on to the PPE e-commerce ordering portal. Those deliveries are booked in, and the Department will continue to work with the hospice sector to ensure they have the support they need.

Intensive Care: Coronavirus

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress his Department has made on ensuring that there is adequate critical care capacity in hospitals during the covid-19 outbreak.

Edward Argar: The Chancellor has been clear that the National Health Service will get whatever funding it needs to provide the best possible care for those who need it throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This has included more than £6 billion in funding to bolster the resilience and capacity of our health services in recent weeks.On 17 March it was announced that non-urgent elective operations were to be postponed to free up approximately 30,000 hospital beds nationally as a key part of the COVID-19 response. This measure was implemented to free-up the maximum possible critical care capacity to allow staff to prepare for, and respond to, the anticipated large numbers of COVID-19 patients needing respiratory support. It was stressed that emergency admissions, cancer treatment and other clinically urgent care continue unaffected. 8,000 beds were also placed at the NHS’s disposal following an unprecedented deal with the independent sector.Further to this, we have been greatly strengthened by over 10,000 returning health professionals; 27,000 student nurses, doctors and other health professionals starting their NHS careers early; and 607,000 NHS volunteers.

NHS: Recruitment

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what progress his Department has made on increasing staffing levels within the NHS in response to the covid-19 outbreak.

Helen Whately: Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, NHS England has published a suite of documents to support National Health Service organisations with the management of their workforce. All of the documents can be found on NHS England’s website at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/workforce/The NHS has also run a campaign asking for recently retired doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals to return to practice. Further details can be found at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/returning-clinicians/

Hospices: Coronavirus

Sir John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to support hospices during the covid-19 outbreak.

Helen Whately: The Department regularly assesses the effect of the COVID-19 outbreak on the hospice sector, and through NHS England and NHS Improvement, are engaged in regular discussions with key stakeholders in the hospice sector regarding the challenges they face. A range of steps have been taken to support them.On 8 April 2020, the Chancellor announced funding of up to £200 million for hospices over the next three months as part of the £750 funding package for the voluntary and charitable sector. This funding will support them to increase capacity of NHS services and provide stability as we manage our response to COVID-19.In addition, to ensure that hospices continue to benefit from fundraising activities while social distancing measures remain in place, they are eligible for a range of measures which apply to charities such as having the option to defer their VAT bills to the end of June, paying no business rates for their shops next year and applying for a Business Interruption Loan. Many charity shops are already eligible for 80% charitable rate relief and will benefit from the new enhanced retail rate relief at 100%.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, on what date recruitment for contact tracers began.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Contact tracing has been used throughout the COVID-19 response. A test and trace programme is being developed to support the next phase of our response. The process to recruit contact tracers to support the test and trace programme began on 20 April 2020 and will continue throughout the month of May to ensure we can rapidly scale up the number of staff to whatever levels are needed. In the first instance, 18,000 contact tracers are being sourced, of which 3,000 will be existing and recently retired health professionals and other specialist groups who have expressed interest in helping with the COVID-19 response and 15,000 will be call handlers.

Care Homes: Coronavirus

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what processes his Department has put in place for the reporting of deaths resulting from covid-19 in care homes to the Care Quality Commission.

Ms Nadine Dorries: Holding answer received on 04 May 2020



Information on deaths in care homes is collected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) through regulation 16 notifications of the CQC (Registration) Regulations 2009. Providers have always been able to report cause of death to the CQC via death notifications but since 10 April the CQC has amended its data collection form to make it easier to record and collate data about confirmed and suspected COVID-19 deaths. This data is published as part of the Office for National Statistics’ weekly reporting on deaths from COVID-19 in care homes. From 29 April, Government figures for COVID-19 deaths include all cases where there is a positive confirmed test for COVID-19, including deaths in care homes.

Hospitals: Coronavirus

Sir Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish daily statistics for recovery and discharge of covid-19 patients from hospital.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Health Services: Cleaning Services

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether cleaning staff working in hospitals and other healthcare settings are eligible for the death in service benefit announced on 27 April 2020.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 06 May 2020



The Government is in the process of setting up a life assurance scheme for frontline health and social care staff in England who contract COVID-19 during the course of their work.The scheme is non-contributory and pays a £60,000 lump sum where staff die as a result of COVID-19 and had been recently working in frontline roles and locations where personal care is provided to individuals who have recently contracted COVID-19. The scheme is also available to staff whose duties require them to be present in a frontline National Health Service or social care setting where COVID-19 is present including cleaning staff.The scheme covers all frontline staff who are employed by a statutory NHS organisation, or who work for organisations that support the delivery of NHS services or who work on an NHS contract.

Care Homes: Coronavirus

Nadia Whittome: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance his Department has provided to Clinical Commissioning Groups on admitting to hospital residents of care homes with covid-19 symptoms.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 06 May 2020



On 2 April 2020, the Government, NHS England, Public Health England and the Care Quality Commission co-published guidance for the care sector, entitled ‘Admission and Care of Residents during COVID-19 Incident in a Care Home’.This contains advice on assessing the appropriateness of hospitalising, infection prevention and control for patient transport, and informing the receiving healthcare facility that the incoming patient has COVID-19 symptoms.Building on this, the Government published the ‘COVID-19: Our Action Plan for Adult Social Care’ on 15 April 2020. This confirms that, where a care home resident is suffering from more severe COVID-19 symptoms, the individual may need to be admitted to hospital. Decisions should always be made in line with clinical need.On 1 May 2020, NHS England and NHS Improvement published a letter: ‘COVID-19 response: Primary care and community health support care home residents.’ The letter advises that secondary care providers should accept referrals and admissions from care home residents where clinically appropriate.In this unprecedented global pandemic, we are constantly reviewing our guidance in line with the best scientific advice.

Coronavirus: Medical Treatments

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of using therapeutic plasma in the treatment of patients with covid-19.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 06 May 2020



On 25 April, the Department announced that the clinical trial REMAP-CAP was given approval to determine as part of a trial, if plasma donated by patients who have recovered from COVID-19 can help those with the virus. NHS Blood and Transplant has started to collect convalescent plasma to supply to REMAP-CAP and the first transfusion took place last week.In parallel with the trial, NHS Blood and Transplant is scaling up a national programme for collecting plasma so the treatment can be widely rolled out if it is shown to be effective. The collection of plasma will be ramped up by mid-May to deliver up to 10,000 units of plasma to the National Health Service every week, enough to treat 5,000 COVID-19 patients per week.Convalescent plasma has been used as an effective treatment for emerging infections in the past, and this step forward underpins the Department’s scientific approach to fighting this virus.

Coronavirus: Medical Treatments

Patrick Grady: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what funding his Department is providing for research into the potential merits of using therapeutic plasma in the treatment of patients with covid-19.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 06 May 2020



The Department invests £1 billion per year in health research through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The NIHR is prioritising clinical research activity on COVID-19 through its national prioritisation process for Urgent Public Health research. The REMAP-CAP trial is one of several studies that have been nationally prioritised. This is a platform clinical trial testing the effectiveness of multiple treatments on COVID-19 patients in intensive care. The NIHR is supporting prioritised studies such as REMAP-CAP to expedite their local set-up, management and delivery through the NIHR Clinical Research Network. As announced on 25 April, the Department is working in collaboration with NHS Blood and Transplant and the other United Kingdom blood services, Public Health England and NHS Digital to enable the testing of convalescent plasma through this trial. Details of funding for this will be made publicly available shortly.

NHS and Social Services: Conditions of Employment

Ian Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the full eligibility criteria for the death in service benefit for NHS and social care staff who have died from covid-19.

Helen Whately: Holding answer received on 06 May 2020



The Government is in the process of setting up a life assurance scheme for frontline health and social care staff in England who contract COVID-19 during the course of their work.The scheme is non-contributory and pays a £60,000 lump sum where staff die as a result of COVID-19 and had been recently working in frontline roles and locations where personal care is provided to individuals who have recently contracted COVID-19.The Department will publish the legal rules for the scheme, which will cover eligibility, as soon as possible. The NHS Business Services Authority will administer the scheme and will also publish guidance for staff and employers.We understand the Scottish Government are working on a separate scheme for NHS Scotland.

Health Services: Transport

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on the transportation of (a) patients, (b) organ donations and (c) medical supplies by air.

Edward Argar: Holding answer received on 06 May 2020



Air Ambulances UK are working closely with the 21 United Kingdom air ambulance charities to provide valuable national support in these very challenging times. In addition to continuing the delivery of life-saving care to their local communities, air ambulance services are supporting the national COVID-19 response by using their aircraft to transfer patients, doctors, and equipment including medical supplies between hospitals.The air ambulance charities are contributing to regional and national planning regarding the best use of resources via the National Ambulance Coordination Centre, and liaising with partners in the ambulance service, wider National Health Service and the military.

Coronavirus: Computer Software

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what redress mechanisms for data subjects are in place in respect of the personal data collected by the new covid-19 tracing app being developed by NHSX.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Research

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health & Social Care, whether he plans to take steps to ensure that the publicly funded research and development costs of (a) a vaccine for covid-19 and (b) drugs to treat that disease are (i) published and (ii) provided to (A) other governments and (B) the WHO's Global Observatory on Health Research and Development.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Detention Centres

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 30 April 2020 to Question 38618, on Detention Centres, for what reasons information on the number of covid-19 tests conducted in immigration removal centres is not held; and if he will make a statement.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Mental Health Services: Coronavirus

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has on covid-19 testing for NHS mental health staff; and if he will make a statement.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

NHS: Voluntary Work

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many referrals to NHS Volunteer Responders have been made through the GoodSAM Responder app by (a) type of support required and (b) local authority.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Hospitals

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many admissions have there been to Nightingale hospitals; and how many deaths have occurred within them.

Edward Argar: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Protective Clothing: Contracts

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the organisations and companies which received contracts from the Government to deliver personal protective equipment during the covid-19 outbreak; and on what date each contract was entered into.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Palliative Care

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) people with learning disabilities and autism and (b) other people are not unlawfully having Do not resuscitate or Do not attempt cardio pulmonary resuscitation written into their medical records.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Sheltered Housing: Coronavirus

Dr Dan Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to test residents living in sheltered accommodation for covid-19.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Medical Treatments

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure the public seek care and treatment in the event of (a) a heart attack and (b) other urgent conditions during the covid-19 outbreak.

Edward Argar: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Screening

James Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many of the 40,369 Pillar 2 covid-19 tests reported under delivery routes for 30 April 2020 were (a) ordered and (b) dispatched on (i) 26 April, (ii) 27 April, (iii) 28 April, (iv) 29 April and (v) 30 April 2020.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Protective Clothing

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the performance of (a) reusable respirator hoods designed at Southampton University, (b) reusable surgical gowns manufactured in Derbyshire and (c) other recent developments of reusable personal protective equipment (PPE) for NHS staff; for what reason reusable items of PPE have so far only been ordered by individual NHS trusts; and if he will make it his policy to allocate resources to the acquisition of adequate supplies of reusable PPE.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme 2020

Judith Cummins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether (a) all, (b) agency and (c) NHS wholly owned subsidiary staff working in NHS acute hospital settings will be eligible for the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme 2020.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

NHS: Conditions of Employment

Judith Cummins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether staff that are (a) newly recruited and (b) returning to work in NHS frontline settings during the covid-19 outbreak have (i) standard NHS terms and conditions of employment, (ii) access to NHS pensions and (iii) access to other associated benefits.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Screening

James Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the number of people resident in each (a) parliamentary constituency and (b) local authority area that were tested under (i) Pillar 1, (ii) Pillar 2 In-person routes and (ii) Pillar 2 Delivery routes.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Death

Sir Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people employed or volunteering in NHS hospitals who have died as the result of a covid-19 infection were working on (a) intensive care wards, (b) Blue (covid-19) wards and (c) Red (non-covid 19) wards.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Dental Services

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the range of urgent dental treatments available through NHS England.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Vaccination

Matt Western: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase UK vaccine production capacity.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Smoking

Andrew Bridgen: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment Public Health England has made of the implications for its policies of recent research that cigarette smokers are less likely to contract covid-19; and if he will make a statement.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: North West

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with Local Resilience Forums in the North West about the reasons for the North West having the highest reported incidences of cases of covid-19.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: North West

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has issued guidance to NHS trusts in the North West as a result of the increase of cases of covid-19 in that region.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: North West

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what additional support his Department is providing to NHS trusts in the North West to tackle the increase in cases of covid-19 in that region.

Edward Argar: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

NHS Trusts: Standards

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many hospital trusts were put into special measures between September 2012 and July 2018.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The combined total number of individual hospital trusts placed in Special Measures for Quality reasons and/or Special Measures for Financial reasons between September 2012 and July 2018, not double-counting any trusts placed in both types of Special Measures during the specified period, was 39. This figure does not include two ambulance service trusts placed in Special Measures for Quality reasons during the specified period.

Rotherham Hospital: Accident and Emergency Departments

Alexander Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average waiting time was in A&E at Rotherham Hospital in 2019.

Edward Argar: The information is not available in the format requested.The following table shows the mean and median for duration to assessment, treatment and departure for unplanned attendances at Rotherham District Hospital.Figures in the following table are in minutes. Number of unplanned attendances100,974Duration to assessment (mean)26Duration to assessment (median)17Duration to treatment (mean)92Duration to treatment (median)78Duration to departure (mean)180Duration to departure (median)164

Coronavirus: Hospitals

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it the policy of the Government to use the Nightingale temporary hospitals as isolation hospitals for covid-19 patients so that other hospitals can prioritise patients without covid-19; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Argar: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Vitamin D: Deficiency Diseases

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether vitamin D levels of patients are being tested in hospitals; and whether his Department has made an assessment of the extent of vitamin D deficiencies due to the covid-19 lockdown.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Protective Clothing

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the advice from the British Dietetic Association, British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition and Royal College of Nursing that the fitting of (a) naso-gastric and (b) naso-jejunal feeding tubes should be categorised as aerosol generating procedures for the purposes of personal protective equipment.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Hospitals: Patients

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that people discharged from hospital following treatment for covid-19 (a) have their nutrition and hydration needs met and (b) receive treatment for malnutrition and dysphagia.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Malnutrition

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure vulnerable people at risk of malnutrition receive appropriate nutrition support from community (a) dietitians and (b) other health professionals (i) during and (ii) after the covid-19 pandemic.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Epilepsy: Influenza

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will accept the recommendation of the Epilepsy Society to include epilepsy in the list of conditions eligible for a free flu vaccine.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Carers: Coronavirus

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to ensure that unpaid carers are eligible for covid-19 testing.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Domestic Abuse: Telephone Services

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, for what reason national domestic violence helplines and not local services are promoted at covid-19 testing centres; and if he will review that policy to ensure that local services are also promoted.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Screening

Dr Philippa Whitford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, in addition to the covid-19 tests performed at test centres, how many covid-19 tests performed at home were sent to testing centres each day from 27 April 2020 to 5 May 2020.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Screening

Dr Philippa Whitford: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, in addition to the tests performed at test centres, how many home testing kits were sent out each day from between 27 April 2020 and 5 May 2020.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Ambulance Services: Coronavirus

Charlotte Nichols: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of employees of NHS Ambulance Trusts in England (a) were on sick leave, (b) were self-isolating due to covid-19 and (c) had tested positive for covid-19 in each of the last six weeks.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Death

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the reason for the number excess deaths reported by the Office of National Statistics.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Death

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to increase support for areas identified by the Office for National Statistics as having the largest number of deaths involving covid-19.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

NHS: Computer Software

Mr David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he held discussions with his counterparts in the (a) Welsh Government, (b) Scottish Government and (c) Northern Ireland Executive on trialling the NHS contact tracing app in those parts of the UK.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Protective Clothing

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much personal protective equipment has been allocated to (a) early years settings, (b) SEN schools, (c) children’s homes and (d) social workers in each of the last six months.

Jo Churchill: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Care Homes: Coronavirus

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many people diagnosed with covid-19 have been discharged from hospital into residential care since the start of the covid-19 outbreak.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Social Services: Living Wage

Fleur Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, will he bring forward legislative proposals to introduce a statutory requirement for care workers to receive a real living wage.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Social Services: Disability

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will allocate additional funding to the social care system to ensure disabled people and their families are adequately supported to stay healthy and safe.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Social Services: Coronavirus

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is taking to ensure (a) transparent monitoring of Care Act Easements so that there is a comprehensive record of all reduced or withdrawn packages of care and support during the covid-19 outbreak.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Care Homes: Coronavirus

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to page 7, subheading 5. Advice for staff, of the Government's guidance published on 2 April 2020 entitled Admission and Care of Residents during COVID-19 Incident in a Care Home, what the evidential basis is for the statement that Care home staff who come into contact with a COVID-19 patient while not wearing PPE can remain at work ... because in most instances this will be a short-lived exposure.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Clinical Trials: LGBT People

Jamie Stone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of prohibiting gay and bisexual men from donating their plasma to a trial to provide treatment for covid-19.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Screening

Olivia Blake: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure covid-19 tests are not double counted when returned.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the data his Department holds on the (a) prevalence rate, (b) R rate and (c) total number of infections assessed by the UK Government to be present in (i) France, (ii) Italy, (iii) Spain, (iv) Iran, (v) USA, (vi) China, (vii) Belgium (viii) Paris, (ix) Milan, (x) Brussels, (xi) Madrid, (xii) Tehran, (xiii) Wuhan, (xiv) Shanghai, (xv) Beijing, (xvii) New York City and (xvii) Brussels on (A) 1 January, (B) 1 February, (C) 1 March and (D) 1 April 2020.

Ms Nadine Dorries: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Nurses: Qualifications

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make it his policy to reduce the (a) administrative cost and (b) bureaucratic burden resulting from the annual re validation process for nurses; and if he will make a statement.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

NHS: Voluntary Work

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of NHS volunteer responders have been cleared to undertake tasks to support the NHS; and whether it is his policy that those volunteers should also undertake tasks in support of (a) care homes and the (b) National Care Force.

Helen Whately: The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for International Development

Palestinians: Textbooks

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2020 to Question 28578 on Palestinians: Textbooks, whether the Georg Eckert Institute’s interim report into Palestinian Authority school textbooks will be published in full without redaction; and if she will place a copy of the preliminary findings in the Library after the expected publication of the interim report in June 2020.

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the Answer of 8 July 2019 to Question 272116 on Palestinians: schools, whether the initial international review covering the first 70 textbooks will be published in Spring 2020; and when that review will be placed in the Library.

James Cleverly: The UK government is deeply concerned about allegations of incitement in Palestinian Authority’s school textbooks.Following UK calls for action, we secured agreement from European partners to commission the Georg Eckert Institute to conduct an independent review, which is currently underway. We expect an interim report by June, with a full report later in the year.We have regular discussions with our European Partners on the Review and we continue to encourage the EU to publish the report. The issue was most recently raised on 18 February by the UK Consul General Jerusalem with the EU Representative in Jerusalem.

Developing Countries: Coronavirus

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to support communities reduce the level of (a) social tension and (b) in countries in the Global South during the the covid-19 pandemic.

Wendy Morton: In many countries with weak governance or ongoing conflict, COVID-19 risks raising social tensions and posing a challenge to peace processes and respect for human rights. Higher levels of instability pose risks to UK national security and poses obstacles to an effective response, e.g. by limiting humanitarian access.DFID is taking steps to ensure that both our immediate responses to COVID-19 and long-term recovery efforts do not exacerbate conflict and instead help to build peace and improve governance. As pledged in our manifesto, this government will continue to support international initiatives to achieve reconciliation, stability and justice across the world.As such, there has never been a more important time to deliver our UK aid commitment and we have so far pledged £744 million of UK aid to help end this pandemic as quickly as possible.The UK is also ensuring that those people who are most vulnerable to COVID-19 can continue to receive humanitarian assistance during the pandemic. We are a key contributor to the UN’s Global Humanitarian Response Plan, which is supporting the most vulnerable, including refugees, Internally Displaced Persons, migrants and host communities.

Developing Countries: Coronavirus

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she is taking to monitor the equity of social distancing measures implemented in response to the covid-19 pandemic by (a) national governments and (b) security services in the Global South.

Wendy Morton: In low- and low-middle income settings, DFID recognises the need for social distancing to be developed and implemented in a context-sensitive way within the wider range of disease control measures. This will both increase adherence (therefore slowing spread of the disease) and minimise negative secondary impacts of these measures.DFID is working with the World Health Organization and other international organisations, to build context-specific evidence on how social distancing measures can be of most overall benefit to low- and low-middle countries. This includes DFID funding research to model the impacts of disease control measures (including social distancing) on cases and deaths from COVID-19 in addition to indirect secondary impacts. This will help countries to make informed decisions on which interventions are likely to deliver the best outcomes for their populations.DFID is developing a strong, coordinated, monitoring, evaluation and learning system around COVID-19, which includes risks associated with the role of security actors. The cross government COVID-19 Conflict, Security and Governance Hub has been established to monitor, analyse and support action on risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes governments enforcing lock-downs using the security services, with potential for exacerbating underlying instabilities. The hub is setting up a system to monitor risks such as these as part of a wider cross-country monitoring system. In addition, many DFID Country Offices are working with government counterparts to establish their own country-based monitoring systems and live ‘stability-trackers’.

Overseas Aid: Education

Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what support her Department is providing to global education during the covid-19 pandemic.

Wendy Morton: Ensuring 12 years of quality education for all children, especially girls, is a UK priority, particularly in responding to the COVID 19 pandemic. This entails mitigating short term risks by focussing on safety, nutrition, wellbeing and learning whilst schools are closed; and supporting countries to protect and maintain education budgets in the longer term.DFID is adapting its bilateral education programmes in 18 countries. The UK has announced £20 million for the UN Children’s Fund crisis appeal, which includes education, and a further £5 million to the Education Cannot Wait fund to support emergency education in fragile contexts. The Global Partnership for Education, to which the UK is the largest donor, is flexing over £200 million to support education sector stability in response to the pandemic.

International Financing Facility for Education

Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what support her Department is providing to the International Financing Facility for Education.

Wendy Morton: The Prime Minister announced a commitment of up to £300 million for the International Finance Facility for Education (IFFEd) at the UN General Assembly in September 2019, consisting of £100 million in grant funding and around £200 million in paid-in cash and guarantees.The UK is working closely with the Education Commission and Netherlands to finalise plans for the Facility, which will be based in London. IFFEd will be a vital tool to help ensure education systems are adequately funded during and after the COVID 19 pandemic.

Education: Disease Control

Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the role of global education in helping to tackle (a) the covid-19 pandemic and (b) future pandemics.

Wendy Morton: DFID’s objective in responding to the pandemic is to support a robust global public health response that empowers local leadership and works through national and regional systems.Global education has a critical role to play in this and we are adapting programmes to raise community awareness of the pandemic and protect the most vulnerable. We are using lessons from Ebola and the current response to improve our approach.

Developing Countries: Education

Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of the use of satellite technology in delivering remote learning to children that are not attending school as a result of (a) the covid-19 pandemic and (b) other reasons.

Wendy Morton: DFID is helping to deliver remote learning to children during the COVID19 crisis through radio, television and many mobile telephone networks that are providing educational applications free of charge.Satellite internet technology has specific potential benefits in reaching children in remote areas where mobile telephone coverage is limited. The DFID-funded EdTech Hub is researching how to effectively scale this type of learning in low income countries, with a key focus on the Value for Money compared to non-tech interventions.

Developing Countries: Basic Skills

Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of using onebillion.org software to teach reading, writing and numeracy to children in developing countries; and whether her Department has allocated funding to provision of teaching using that software in those countries.

Wendy Morton: We are aware of the learning benefits of using onebillion, as shown by research and as the UK winner of the Global Learning X-Prize. Onebillion’s approach has demonstrated learning benefits for both girls and boys in areas of the world where access to education is limited. DFID has previously funded onebillion through Comic Relief and through an in-kind donation in Malawi.

Department for Education

Children and Young People: Coronavirus

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make a direct address to children and young people on the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on their lives and education.

Vicky Ford: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, directly addressed young people in the Downing Street press conference on Sunday 19 April, acknowledging the challenges that they are facing in their lives and education and the contribution that they are making to the national effort:“And to any young people watching, I wanted to say to you how sorry I am that you have had your education disrupted in this way. I know how hard it must be and I would like to thank you for making the adjustments you have had to make.I know you will be missing your friends, your teachers and your lessons. I want you to know that you are an important part of this fight too and I cannot thank you enough for all that you are doing.”The department continues to plan a range of activities in the coming weeks to engage with diverse groups of young people who have been affected in different ways by the outbreak. This included a recent address to young people on the new national online learning platform Oak National Academy via an online assembly on Thursday 30 April, which is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgdhOstV6iI&feature=emb_logo.

Free School Meals

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment his Department has made of the (a) quality, (b) quantity and (c) nutritious content of food parcels provided by private caterers of free school meals.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate he has made of the average profit made by private caterers of free school meals through the provision of food parcels to children on free school meals.

Vicky Ford: As both my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have made clear, the Government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID-19.During this period, we are asking schools to support children who are eligible for and claiming benefits-related free school meals by providing meals or food parcels through their existing food providers wherever possible. We know that many schools are successfully delivering food parcels or arranging food collections for eligible children, and we encourage this approach where it is possible.We would always encourage suppliers to work with schools to ensure pupils are provided with healthy and nutritious meals. We are aware of excellent examples of schools working with caterers and other organisations to arrange high quality and healthy free meals for eligible children, and would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to all those involved during this very challenging period.The department has published advice for schools on providing free school meals at this time: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance-for-schools. The government will continue to provide schools with their expected funding, including funding to cover free school meals and universal infant free school meals, throughout this period of closure. Where a school’s caterer is continuing to provide free meals to eligible children through food parcel arrangements, the school will continue to ensure that the service delivers value for money.These are rapidly developing circumstances; we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.

Children: Coronavirus

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent risk assessment he has made of children returning to (a) nursery (b) primary and (c) secondary school during the covid-19 outbreak.

Nick Gibb: My right hon, Friend, the Secretary of State, has made it clear that schools and early years providers will only reopen when the scientific advice indicates that it is the right time to do so, based on five key tests.The Department is working closely with the sector and stakeholders to consider how to reopen, when the time is right. We will take into account the latest scientific advice to ensure we have the right guidance and the right support in place once we are ready to reopen schools and nurseries.Our latest collection of guidance for schools and educational settings relating to COVID-19 is set out below: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-schools-and-other-educational-settings.These are rapidly developing circumstances. We continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.

Children: Coronavirus

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the notice period given to schools will be in advance of children being allowed to return to schools in order that those schools can establish safe practices for the provision of education in school settings after the covid-19 lockdown.

Nick Gibb: My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, has made it clear that schools will only reopen when the scientific advice indicates that it is the right time to do so, based on five key tests.The Department is working in close consultation with the sector as we consider how to reopen schools when the time is right, and will ensure that everyone has as much notice as possible to plan and prepare.Our latest collection of guidance for schools and educational settings relating to COVID-19 is set out below:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-schools-and-other-educational-settings.These are rapidly developing circumstances. We continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.

Children: Coronavirus

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps local authorities have taken to identify the safeguarding risks to children not attending school during the covid-19 lockdown.

Vicky Ford: We know that, for many children, being in education is a protective factor from harm. We have therefore asked schools to remain open for children who are vulnerable, as well as for those children of workers critical to the COVID-19 response who absolutely need to attend.For those children not attending education settings, we have provided guidance for parents and carers, which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers/closure-of-educational-settings-information-for-parents-and-carers.We have published safeguarding advice to support schools and colleges, which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-safeguarding-in-schools-colleges-and-other-providers/coronavirus-covid-19-safeguarding-in-schools-colleges-and-other-providers.We also recognise the importance of keeping children safe online. We have worked across government to produce guidance to support parents and carers to keep children safe from online harms, which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-keeping-children-safe-online/coronavirus-covid-19-support-for-parents-and-carers-to-keep-children-safe-online.Local authorities have the key day-to-day responsibility for delivery of children’s social care. We have established Regional Education and Children’s Teams (REACTs) to co-ordinate our work with local authorities, minimising the burden on the sector while we continue to support councils to deliver safe, effective services. Ofsted has redeployed HM Inspectors to provide on-the-ground, practical support to local authorities, and we have refocused the work of intervention commissioners and advisers to target support to local authorities in need.The government is also making £1.6 million of funding available immediately for the NSPCC to expand and promote its national helpline for adults. Expanding the helpline will mean that many more adults know how and where to raise concerns and seek advice or support about the safety and well-being of any children they are worried about.We continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.

Education: Standards

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent steps he has taken to tackle the educational attainment gap.

Nick Gibb: The attainment gap has narrowed at every stage from the early years to age 16. School standards have risen and disadvantaged children, relative to their peers, are performing better than in 2011. Since 2011, the gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers has narrowed by 13% at age 11 and 9% at age 16, as measured by the disadvantaged gap index. Schools receive additional funding in the form of the pupil premium – worth around £2.4 billion annually – to help them support their disadvantaged pupils. The Department also founded the Education Endowment Foundation with £137 million to research and share with schools the most effective ways to spend the pupil premium on developing high-quality teaching. In higher education, the Department has asked universities to take on a more direct role in raising attainment in schools. In our latest guidance, we asked the Office for Students to secure greater, faster progress through Access and Participation Plans. Through these plans, universities set out what activities they intend to take to ensure students from disadvantaged backgrounds or under-represented groups can access, participate, succeed and progress in higher education. To support children in their earliest years, the Department has consulted on a package of reforms to the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile which are intended to free up teachers to spend more time teaching, interacting with and supporting children to ensure they are developing the rich vocabulary, skills and behaviours they need to thrive at school and in later life. Since 2018, we have committed more than £60 million to programmes to improve early language and literacy. This includes Hungry Little Minds, a three-year campaign to help parents support their child’s early language development, to prepare them for school and beyond. The Hungry Little Minds website has been updated to include a wealth of resources and has received 187,446 new users between 16 March and 27 April 2020, seeking out tips, activities, apps and resources to support children at home. As well as the recent commitment of over £100 million to boost remote education, the Department is considering, with a range of partner organisations, opportunities for targeted support for disadvantaged pupils. This includes ongoing work with the Education Endowment Foundation to understand the likely impact of school closures on disadvantaged pupils’ attainment, including a rapid review of evidence about effective remote education. For more information about the wide-ranging action to tackle the attainment gap during the COVID-19 outbreak, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 4 May 2020 to Question 41137.

Secondary Education: Assessments

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing mixed assessments for pupils in year 10 for the next academic year instead of an exam-based assessment.

Nick Gibb: The Department recognises that the COVID-19 outbreak will be causing stress and uncertainty for many students, regardless of whether they were due to take examinations this year or not.The Department also recognises that students who are studying GCSE or equivalent courses and are due to take examinations in 2021 will have experienced disruption to their education. We are working with the sector to consider how we can support them in light of this.

Children and Young People: Mental Health Services

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of the effect on referral rates for child and adolescent mental health services of the closure of schools due to the covid-19 outbreak; and what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on introducing additional referral routes for those services.

Vicky Ford: The Department for Health and Social Care is currently supporting NHS England and NHS Improvement in investigating the consequences of the COVID-19 restrictions on referrals and consultations by age. There are reports from local areas that numbers of referrals to NHS children and young people’s mental health services have fallen over recent weeks, however, data is not available to identify the specific impact that school closures may have had.NHS children and young people’s mental health services remain open for those needing support, and referrals can be made by parents, teachers, social workers and by children and young people themselves (if over the age of 16). Local areas are rapidly adjusting to deliver interventions by phone or via digital platforms. Plans are also being put in place for those children and young people who do not have access to online resources or may not have a private place in their home to take part in one-to-one conversations.

Nurseries: Finance

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to ensure the financial sustainability of nurseries (a) during and (b) after the covid-19 lockdown.

Vicky Ford: The government is committed to ensuring critical workers and vulnerable children have access to childcare during the COVID-19 outbreak, and that the childcare market is able to recover afterwards to enable parents with young children to return to work. In order to support them to deliver this, the government has announced unprecedented support for businesses, including for the early years sector.The Department for Education has published guidance for the early years sector on the support available to them: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures#funding.The Department for Education is having regular conversations with the sector and local authorities about the availability of childcare, and will continue this as we move through the COVID-19 outbreak to recovery.Our latest collection of guidance for schools and educational settings relating to COVID-19 is set out below:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-schools-and-other-educational-settings.These are rapidly developing circumstances. We continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.

Free School Meals: Voucher Schemes

James Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what support the Government is giving to schools who wish to access free school meals vouchers from a retailer not listed on the Government’s National Voucher Scheme.

James Murray: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether the costs to schools who wish to access free school meals vouchers from retailers not listed on the Government’s National Voucher Scheme will be reimbursed in full.

Vicky Ford: As both my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have made clear, the government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID-19.During this period, we are asking schools to support children who are eligible for and claiming benefits related free school meals, by providing meals or food parcels through their existing food providers wherever possible. We know that many schools are successfully delivering food parcels or arranging food collections for eligible children, and we encourage this approach where it is possible. However, we recognise that providing meals and food parcels is not a practicable option for all schools. That is why on 31 March we launched a national voucher scheme as an alternative option, with costs covered by the Department for Education.Through the national voucher scheme, schools and families could initially access eGift cards for Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Waitrose and M&S. On Monday 27 April Aldi were added to this list and on Wednesday 29 April McColl’s were also added. We recognise that it may not be convenient or possible for some families to visit one of these supermarkets and we are continuing to work to see if additional supermarkets can be added to this list.Where none of these supermarkets are convenient for families, schools can directly purchase vouchers for alternative supermarkets and be reimbursed for the costs.Full details are available here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance-for-schools.These are rapidly developing circumstances; we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.

GCE A-level and GCSE: Coronavirus

Christian Wakeford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has plans to review the method by which (a) GCSE and (b) A-level grades are calculated as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

Nick Gibb: Following the decision to cancel this summer’s examinations, the independent qualifications regulator, Ofqual, is working with the examination boards to develop a robust process for awarding GCSE and A level grades in summer 2020. Schools and colleges will produce fair and objective examination centre grades, which will be externally standardised to ensure consistency. These arrangements aim to deliver the fairest possible outcomes for students.Ofqual will evaluate the outcome of this process in due course.

Education: Coronavirus

Christian Wakeford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to ensure that disadvantaged students have access to (a) computers and (b) other essential equipment so that they can access e-learning and not fall behind on school work during the covid-19 lockdown.

Christian Wakeford: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all (a) schools, (b) colleges and (c) universities are providing e-learning to students during the covid-19 outbreak.

Nick Gibb: On 19 April 2020, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, announced that laptops and tablets will be provided for the most disadvantaged children who would otherwise not have access and are preparing for examinations in Year 10, receive support from a social worker, or are a care leaver. Local authorities, trusts and other organisations overseeing schools have been given guidance on how to order devices for children and young people.This forms part of a much wider package of support, which aims to help schools get set up on cloud-based education platforms and provide remote education. 4G wireless routers will be provided to help disadvantaged children with a social worker in secondary school, and care leavers and Year 10s to access the internet. New online education resources will also be made available for teachers and children from the Oak Academy and the BBC.

Students: Coronavirus

Tom Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will take steps to help ensure that student renters and university accommodation providers reach agreement to refund rental payments where students have not been in residence in that accommodation as a result of the covid-19 lockdown.

Michelle Donelan: As both my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have made clear, the government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by Covid-19.The government urges universities and private hall providers to be fair in their decisions about rent charges for this period. A number of universities and large companies have waived rents for the summer term or released students early from their contracts. Students who are tenants with individual private landlords can discuss with them the possibility of an early release from their tenancy agreement. It is important to stress that accommodation providers should not have instructed any student to return home. If any accommodation provider did formally instruct a student to leave the property then it would be unacceptable to continue to charge student rents. Students will continue to receive scheduled payments of loans towards their living costs for the remainder of the current 2019/20 academic year. Government guidance makes clear that tenants should continue to pay rent and abide by all other terms of their tenancy agreement to the best of their ability during the Covid-19 outbreak.If a student thinks that their accommodation provider is treating them unfairly, they can raise a complaint under the accommodation codes of practice as long as their provider is a code member. The codes can be found at: https://www.thesac.org.uk/; https://www.unipol.org.uk/the-code/how-to-complain and: https://www.rla.org.uk/about/nrla-code-of-practice.shtml.

Teaching Excellence Framework Independent Review

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when the Independent Review of the Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework by Dame Shirley Pearce will be published.

Michelle Donelan: The Higher Education and Research Act (2017) requires that the report of the independent review of the Teaching Excellence and Student Outcomes Framework (TEF) should be laid before Parliament.The reviewer, Dame Shirley Pearce, has submitted her report to ministers and we are considering the report’s evidence and recommendations. We intend to lay the report in due course and publish it alongside the government’s response.

Students: Surveys

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of suspending the national students survey due to varied effects of the covid-19 outbreak.

Michelle Donelan: The National Student Survey (NSS) is managed by the Office for Students (OfS), the independent regulator of higher education in England, on behalf of the UK funding and regulatory bodies. The fieldwork for this year’s NSS took place from 6 January to 30 April 2020. The survey is largely online so the collection of data has not been significantly affected. The OfS has not placed any expectation on higher education providers to publicise the survey during the time of the pandemic. The OfS will take a view in due course on how this year’s NSS will be used having considered the impacts of Covid-19 on the results.

Public Libraries: Coronavirus

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effect of the loss of access to public library computer terminals during the covid-19 outbreak on the (a) education and (b) mental wellbeing of autistic children and young dependent adults from households with no access to a computer or smartphones.

Vicky Ford: During the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, access to a digital device is important to enable children and young people to access education provision and support. We recognise that they can also be an important means of young people maintaining connections with others, accessing sources of support and for maintaining wellbeing. Access to a digital device can often be particularly valuable for autistic children and young people and we appreciate the challenges for those who usually access a device in the community or at their education setting. The government has announced measures to provide laptops and tablets and connectivity support for disadvantaged children and young people who do not currently have access to them. This includes disadvantaged Year 10 pupils, care leavers, and children with a social worker. People aged 16 to 19 without a suitable device for education will be eligible for support through the 16 to 19 Bursary Fund. Further detail on these measures can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/get-help-with-technology-for-remote-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19.

Training: Grants

Stuart Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of replacing tuition fees with a teaching grant for courses taken by (a) health professionals and (b) other key workers.

Michelle Donelan: The government subsidises the costs of higher education through the teaching grant and write-off of unpaid tuition fee loans, which ensures a sustainable system. Nurses and other healthcare students are currently eligible for a range of financial grant support in addition to tuition fee and living cost loans. There is also a range of additional support and bursaries for students in other professions where they are considered to be critical workers.

Schools: Inspections

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when Ofsted inspections are planned to re-start.

Nick Gibb: As both my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have made clear, the Government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID-19. We recognise that this is an extremely challenging time for leaders and staff in our education and care settings.In the current circumstances, it is right that routine Ofsted inspections in the school, further education, early years, local authority and care sectors are suspended. Ofsted retains the power to inspect in all these areas, and will use its powers if it has significant concerns. Ofsted also continues to register and regulate children’s social care, childminding and nurseries.No date has been set for a return to routine inspection at this time. We will continue to work closely with HM Chief Inspector, and the sectors Ofsted inspects, in determining when it will be appropriate to re-start routine inspections.We continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.

Teachers: Leave

Darren Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to page 29 of his Department's document entitled, Teacher recruitment and retention strategy published on 28 January 2019, what progress his Department has made on establishing pilot schemes for teacher sabbaticals.

Nick Gibb: The recruitment and retention of teachers remains a priority for the Government. We want to ensure that all pupils in England are taught by high-quality teachers.The Department has a significant programme of work in place to improve recruitment, retention, and the quality of teaching, much of which is set out in our Recruitment and Retention Strategy, published in January 2019. As part of this, we intend to work closely with the sector and potential delivery partners to consider how to design an effective sabbaticals pilot that works for teachers and school leaders. We are not yet at the stage where we can launch the scheme.The Department will provide further information on any pilot in due course.

Educational Visits: Coronavirus

Carla Lockhart: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with travel insurance companies on the reimbursement of monies paid for school trips that are have been cancelled as a result of covid-19.

Nick Gibb: The Government is in continual dialogue with the insurance sector regarding their response to the unprecedented COVID-19 outbreak. Travel insurance typically applies only for losses that cannot be recovered from elsewhere, that is, after any refunds from tour operators, airlines, travel, or hotels.Although insurance against travel disruption due to pandemics is typically included in travel insurance policies, schools should first contact travel agents or hotels for reimbursement. If there is still no recoverable cost from these sources, a travel insurance claim may be applicable. Some policies will only cover foreign travel, but more comprehensive policies will also cover UK travel. Travel insurance policies differ, so if in doubt, schools and tour providers should speak to their insurer or check the terms and conditions of their policy.The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has produced information on school trip and travel insurance implications following the COVID-19 outbreak. The ABI’s Q&A on the subject is available here: https://www.abi.org.uk/products-and-issues/topics-and-issues/coronavirus-hub/insurance-for-schools/.Schools that are members of the Risk Protection Arrangement (RPA) should submit their claims as per the RPA membership pack.

Department for Education: Remote Working

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many staff in his Department have formal arrangements to work from home during the covid-19 outbreak.

Nick Gibb: As both my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have made clear, the Government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID 19.Following the Prime Minister’s announcement on Monday 16 March 2020 that where possible, people should work from home, all employees of the Department for Education were asked to work from home from Tuesday 17 March. All DfE staff now have arrangements to work from home. All our buildings are closed, but remain accessible for a very small number of staff when required.These are rapidly developing circumstances; we continue to keep the situation under review.

Free School Meals: Coronavirus

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the efficiency of companies issuing free school meals vouchers to families during the covid-19 outbreak.

Vicky Ford: As both my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have made clear, the Government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID-19.During this period, we are asking schools to support children eligible for free school meals by providing meals or food parcels through their existing food providers wherever possible. We know that many schools are successfully delivering food parcels or arranging food collections for eligible children and we encourage this approach where it is possible.However, we recognise that providing meals and food parcels is not a practicable option for all schools. That is why on 31 March we launched a national voucher scheme as an alternative option, with costs covered by the Department for Education.We are monitoring the use of the national voucher scheme on a daily basis. As of 28 April, Edenred has indicated that over 16,500 schools have placed orders for codes under this scheme. Edenred has reported that over £65 million worth of voucher codes has been redeemed into supermarket eGift cards by schools and families through the scheme as of Monday 11 May.We are working tirelessly with Edenred to resolve any outstanding technical problems. We are very grateful to families and schools for their understanding and patience while we upgrade this service to meet increased demand.These are rapidly developing circumstances; we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.

Free School Meals: Voucher Schemes

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending the contract for provision of free school meal vouchers to EdTech companies.

Vicky Ford: As both my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have made clear, the government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID-19.We are encouraging schools to use existing catering arrangements to provide meals or food parcels to pupils who are eligible for free school meals while they are staying at home. Where this is not possible, the Department for Education has developed a centrally funded national voucher scheme as an alternative to support schools with this process.Schools are best placed to determine what is most appropriate locally and are free to make their own arrangements outside the national voucher scheme. We understand that some approaches, such as providing food parcels or purchasing vouchers for shops currently not included in the national scheme, may mean that schools incur additional expenses. Guidance is available setting out how we will compensate schools who incur these additional costs in providing free school meals or vouchers to pupils affected by coronavirus:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance-for-schools.These are rapidly developing circumstances; we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.

Free School Meals: Voucher Schemes

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will make it his policy to require Edenred to set a maximum wait time to log in and use the school voucher system to generate vouchers.

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to ensure that parents who do not have email addresses can access free school meals.

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will ensure that schools that do not use the Edenred system will be reimbursed in full for each meal provided.

Vicky Ford: As both my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have made clear, the government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID-19.During this period, we are asking schools to support children eligible for free school meals by providing meals or food parcels through their existing food providers wherever possible. We know that many schools are successfully delivering food parcels or arranging food collections for eligible children and we encourage this approach where it is possible.However, we recognise that providing meals and food parcels is not a practicable option for all schools. That is why on 31 March we launched a national voucher scheme as an alternative option, with costs covered by the Department for Education.We understand that other approaches, such as providing food parcels or purchasing vouchers for shops currently not included in the national scheme, may mean that schools incur additional expenses. Guidance is available setting out how we will compensate schools who incur these additional costs in providing free school meals or vouchers: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-for-schools.We are monitoring the use of the national voucher scheme on a daily basis. As of 28 April, our supplier Edenred reported that over 16,500 schools had placed orders for the scheme and as of 11 May, Edenred reported that more than £65 million worth of voucher codes had been redeemed into supermarket eGift cards by schools and families through the scheme.If a family does not have an email address, the school can select an eGift card on the parent or carer’s behalf and print and post the eGift card to them.We are working very closely with our supplier, Edenred, to improve the performance of the national voucher scheme, including in relation to the waiting times that parents have experienced when accessing the website to redeem their voucher codes. We are very grateful to families and schools for their understanding and patience while we upgrade this service to meet increased demand.These are rapidly developing circumstances; we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.

Adult Education: Disadvantaged

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State, what steps he is taking to increase participation rates in adult education by people in lower socio-economic groups.

Gillian Keegan: The department recognises the importance of adult education in supporting the economy and tackling disadvantage. Participation in adult education will only become more important as people live longer lives and automation and technological change the profile of the jobs market.We are continuing to invest in adult education to support people from all backgrounds. Most recently, we announced an extra £3 billion, over the course of this Parliament, for a new National Skills Fund (NSF) to help people learn new skills and prepare for the economy of the future.The NSF will transform the lives of people who are not in work or who wish to improve their qualifications as well as people who are keen to return to work from raising a family or who wish to change to a different career. It will not only make this country more prosperous but will also make it fairer.We are also continuing to invest in the Adult Education Budget (AEB) (we are investing £1.34 billion in 2019/20 and 2020/21). The AEB fully funds or co-funds skills provision for eligible adults aged 19 and above from pre-entry to level 3 in order to support them to gain the skills that they need for work, an apprenticeship or further learning.Through the AEB, providers are able to fully fund learners who are employed and in receipt of a low wage and who cannot contribute towards the cost of co-funding fees. The AEB also funds colleges and providers to help adult learners to overcome barriers which prevent them from taking part in learning. This includes Learner Support, which supports learners with a specific financial hardship.For the 2019/20 academic year, we are continuing to support those in work on low incomes to access the AEB through a trial, which allows providers to fully fund eligible learners on low wages. This directly supports social mobility by enabling those that have moved out of unemployment, and are low paid or low-skilled, to further progress.

Adult Education: Digital Technology

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to ensure access to digital learning for adult learners that do not have access to (a) devices and (b) the internet.

Gillian Keegan: We are exploring options within adult education and will be making decisions shortly on where we may be able to introduce flexibilities into the Education and Skills Funding Agency’s Adult Education Budget Funding Rules 2019/20 to help remove barriers, including IT equipment or connectivity costs, for learners wishing to access their provision online. Any changes that we introduce will be communicated via the Covid-19 operational guidance published on GOV.UK.

Science: Further Education

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what long-term strategy his Department has put in place to increase the number of life science students in further education.

Gillian Keegan: Further education colleges are autonomous organisations and, as such, are free to deliver provision to meet the needs of local learners and labour markets.We have established 36 Skills Advisory Panels across the country to increase understanding of the skills that local employers and labour markets need and to work with colleges to help ensure that they align with their provision better. At a national level, we are establishing an independent Skills and Productivity Board (SPB), which will give ministers advice on where the skills system can add the most value, identify areas of potential skills shortage and support us in identifying the training which best equips people for work in the future.We have made substantial spending commitments on maths, digital and technical education and we are also encouraging more students into STEM, from primary school to higher education. The life sciences are covered in school as part of the science curriculum and qualifications. Science is a compulsory subject for key stages 1 to 4 (ages 5 to 16), and the National Curriculum ensures that all pupils in state-maintained schools are given a firm foundation for the future study of biology and life sciences at further and higher education.In post-16 education, students are able to continue to study sciences such as biology at A level. The department is supporting further uptake of science A levels through a range of programmes. This includes support to schools to increase provision of GCSE triple science as we know that those students who study GCSE triple science are more likely to study science at A level. From 2010 to 2019, we have seen a 19% increase in entries to Biological Science A level.Schools and colleges are required to provide independent and impartial careers guidance for 11 year olds to 18 year olds on the full range of education and training options. Careers programmes are developed in line with the Gatsby Benchmarks of Good Careers Guidance, which means that every young person has opportunities to meet employers and providers and to receive personal guidance from a qualified careers adviser to help them choose the right education and career path. The role of the National Careers Service is to deliver independent and impartial careers advice to young people and adults, ensuring that those customers are linked into relevant local Labour Market Information.The Life Sciences Industrial Strategy highlighted the need to increase uptake of life science apprenticeships. The government provided £1.5 million of funding for the Advanced Therapies Apprenticeship Community to allow for key skills gaps to be addressed with high quality apprenticeships. Life science apprenticeship standards already available for delivery include the bioinformatics scientist and clinical trials specialist standards.

Further Education: Digital Technology

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance his Department has issued to  providers of further education to ensure that low-income students maintain access to digital learning.

Gillian Keegan: We would like to thank all the colleges that switched to online learning so that students can continue their studies. Colleges are able to provide digital devices and internet access to disadvantaged 16-19-year-old students using their flexible bursary funding. We have ensured that they can apply for additional funding to do this if needed.Our latest guidance on technology support during COVID-19 is set out below: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/get-help-with-technology-for-remote-education-during-coronavirus-covid-19.

Members: Correspondence and Email

Mr Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will take steps to ensure that (a) emails and (b) letters from hon. Members on constituents' concerns are answered (i) fully and (ii) promptly.

Nick Gibb: The Department takes the concerns raised by any individual or group seriously. As my hon. Friend will appreciate, the Department is currently receiving exceptionally high volumes of correspondence.The Department is doing everything possible to ensure that it provides all colleagues and stakeholders with the most up to date and relevant information in response to their queries or concerns.

Students: Coronavirus

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment he has made of the effect of the covid-19 lockdown on the (a) employment and (b) income of (i) full-time and (ii) part-time students.

Michelle Donelan: The government is working closely with the sector on a wide range of issues and student wellbeing is at the heart of those discussions. It will be a matter for universities to deal with individual students’ situations.Eligible students studying on full-time and part-time courses will continue to receive scheduled payments of loans towards their living costs for the remainder of the current, 2019/20, academic year.We have engaged closely with the Office for Students to enable providers to draw upon existing funding to increase hardship funds and support disadvantaged students impacted by COVID-19. As a result, providers will be able to use the funding, worth around £23 million per month for April and May, towards student hardship funds, including the purchase of IT equipment, and mental health support, as well as to support providers’ access and participation plans.Students with a part-time employment contract should speak to their employer about the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, which has been set up to help pay staff wages and keep people in employment. Information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/financial-support-for-businesses-during-coronaviruscovid-19.As both my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have made clear, the Government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID-19.These are rapidly developing circumstances; we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.

Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the explanatory memorandum on the Adoption and Children (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020, what plans he has to undertake that continuous review of the regulations; whom he plans to consult to determine the effect of the regulations on children and young people; and how frequently he plans to undertake that consultation.

Vicky Ford: We have committed to keeping these regulations under continuous review. We will consider the continued need for and impact of these regulations through regular engagement with a range of stakeholders across the children’s social care sector. As part of this process, we will be monitoring the local need for and use of the flexibilities provided, including through feedback from frontline practitioners and the newly formed Regional Education and Care Teams which consolidate those Department for Education teams that have regular contact with local authorities.

Sixth Form Education

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions he has had with the Education and Skills Funding Agency on (a) auditing guided learning hours and (b) the leaving date that should be recorded by colleges for year 13 students.

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assurances he has provided to colleges that do not record the expected guided learning hours that no financial loss will be incurred as a result of moving to online learning during the covid-19 outbreak.

Gillian Keegan: For funding purposes, guided learning hours are not used in the 16 to 19 system, as providers are funded based on planned hours recorded early in the academic year. The auditing of these hours is based on evidence of planned delivery (for example, with a timetable or learning agreement). In the adult education system, we do not use the planned guided learning hours recorded on the Individualised Learner Record, as the funding is based on a series of rates that are attached to each learning aim.We have stated in our further education operational guidance that we are reviewing the impact of Covid-19 on retention in the 16 to 19 funding formula. We will provide further guidance on this and on recording leaving dates in due course.To help manage the financial implications due to the Covid-19 outbreak, the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) will continue to pay grant-funded providers their scheduled monthly profiled payments for the remainder of the 2019 to 2020 funding year.For 2019 to 2020 only, the ESFA will not carry out the final reconciliation for grant-funded providers who are in receipt of the ESFA-funded Adult Education Budget (AEB), which relates to adult skills, community learning, learner and learning support and 19 to 24 traineeships. These providers will be funded in line with the current agreement schedule with no claw-back, subject to the conditions stated in the operational guidance. The conditions are that these providers will be funded unless they had already forecast significant under-delivery in their mid-year returns and that they support furloughed workers to enhance existing or develop new skills. The conditions also include that providers deliver online learning wherever possible, including for ESFA-funded AEB via existing subcontracting arrangements to support existing learners to successfully complete their courses or qualifications, or retain evidence where this is not possible.ESFA allocations for 2020 to 2021 have been confirmed and payments will be made in line with the national profile.Looking ahead, for 16 to 19 funding, as we will use data from the 2019 to 2020 academic year to calculate allocations for 2021 to 2022, the ESFA may need to apply a different approach to a number of elements within 16 to 19 funding. Where appropriate, we will therefore use alternative data sources to calculate allocations for 2021 to 2022 to ensure, as far as possible, that there is not a disproportionate impact on funding.

Environment Protection: Education

Afzal Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what funding he has allocated to environmental education in schools; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: It is important that children are taught about the environment. During Key Stage 1 (5-7 year olds), pupils are taught about the seasons and habitats, including content about daily weather patterns in the UK. The Key Stage 2 (7 11-year olds) science curriculum further develops pupils’ understanding of the climate and habitats of plants and animals. They will also look at how environments can change, which can include the impact of human actions.In Key Stage 3 science (11-14 year olds), pupils are taught about ecosystems, including how changes in the environment affect different species and the importance of maintaining biodiversity. They are also taught about the production of carbon dioxide by human activity and the effect this has on the climate. This is expanded on in Key Stage 4 science (14-16 year olds), where pupils will consider the evidence for anthropogenic causes of climate change. As part of Key Stage 3 geography, pupils will look at the causes, consequences of and responses to extreme weather conditions and natural weather hazards.In 2017, the Department introduced a new environmental science A level. This will enable pupils to study topics that will support their understanding of climate change and how it can be tackled.The Department is improving the quality of science teaching by funding high-quality professional development through the national network of 41 Science Learning Partnerships and Project Enthuse bursaries. We are also offering incentives to attract more science graduates into teaching, including bursaries of £26,000 and scholarships of £28,000 to attract top science graduates into teaching.

Teachers: Private Education

Dame Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether furloughed teachers are permitted to offer private tuition.

Nick Gibb: Where employers receive public funding for staff costs, and that funding is continuing, we expect employers to use that money to continue to pay staff in the usual fashion, and correspondingly not furlough them. Schools will continue to receive their budgets as usual and will be able to continue to pay their staff, so we do not expect schools to furlough staff. It may be appropriate to furlough some staff if they are paid from private income streams which have stopped or reduced.The Department has developed school workforce guidance on COVID-19, including guidance for schools on continuing to pay supply teachers and employment agencies with which they are engaged. The guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-school-closures/guidance-for-schools-about-temporarily-closing#supply-teachers-and-other-contingent-workersFurther details and information regarding when schools may be able to furlough staff are available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-for-education-early-years-and-childrens-social-careHMRC has published guidance for those who wish to engage in other work while they are furloughed:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-could-be-covered-by-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme#while-youre-on-furlough.These are rapidly developing circumstances. We continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.

Free School Meals: Voucher Schemes

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking with Edenred to ensure the timely receipt of free school vouchers by schools.

Vicky Ford: As both my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have made clear, the government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID-19.We are encouraging schools to use existing catering arrangements to provide meals or food parcels to pupils who are eligible for free school meals while they are staying at home. Where this is not possible, the Department for Education has developed a national voucher scheme as an alternative to support schools with this process.We are working very closely with our supplier, Edenred, to improve the performance of the national voucher scheme, including in relation to the waiting times that parents and schools have experienced when accessing the website to redeem their voucher codes or place orders. Edenred has reported that over £65 million worth of voucher codes has been redeemed into supermarket eGift cards by schools and families through the scheme as of Monday 11 May.Once an eCode has been ordered, it will be sent within four days. Edenred is keeping schools informed of the status of orders once they have been placed. Schools can choose to ‘bulk order’ eCodes for regular distribution (e.g. on a weekly basis), in which case the eCode will be sent on or before the date specified. The eCodes must then be redeemed to create an eGift card, which will be received within 24 hours. We continue to work closely with our supplier and with schools to increase the speed at which orders can be processed.We are very grateful to families and schools for their understanding and patience while we upgrade this service to meet increased demand.These are rapidly developing circumstances; we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.

Free School Meals: Coronavirus

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment he has made of the capacity of Edenred to meet the demand for free school meals while schools are closed during the covid-19 outbreak.

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to ensure the timely provision to families with children on free school meals of vouchers to spend in a supermarket of their choice.

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many free school meal vouchers have been issued since schools were closed in response to the covid-19 outbreak.

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools have chosen their own alternatives to the free school meal voucher system.

Vicky Ford: As both my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have made clear, the government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID-19.During this period, we are asking schools to support children who are eligible for and claiming benefits-related free school meals by providing meals or food parcels through their existing food providers wherever possible. We know that many schools are successfully delivering food parcels or arranging food collections for eligible children, and we encourage this approach where it is possible.However, we recognise that providing meals and food parcels is not a practicable option for all schools. That is why on 31 March we launched a national voucher scheme as an alternative option, with costs covered by the Department for Education.Schools are best placed to make decisions about the most appropriate arrangements for eligible pupils, and this can include food parcel arrangements, provision through the national voucher scheme or alternative voucher arrangements. We do not hold details of how many schools are making arrangements outside of the national voucher scheme.We are working very closely with our national voucher scheme supplier, Edenred, to improve the performance of the scheme. Edenred has reported that over £65 million worth of voucher codes has been redeemed into supermarket eGift cards by schools and families through the scheme as of Monday 11 May. Edenred has also reported that over 16,500 schools had placed orders for the scheme as of Tuesday 28 April. We are very grateful to families and schools for their understanding and patience while we upgrade this service to meet increased demand.These are rapidly developing circumstances; we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.

Foster Care

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many individuals in foster care are in contact with their birth family.

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent steps he has taken to ensure that contact arrangements between (a) foster children and (b) adopted children and their birth families are maintained.

Vicky Ford: The information requested on the number of children in foster care who are in contact with their birth family is not held centrally.We expect that contact between children in care and their birth relatives will continue during the COVID-19 outbreak. It is essential for children and families to remain in touch at this difficult time.Operational guidance published by the department sets out the expectation that contact arrangements are assessed on a case by case basis taking into account a range of factors including the government’s social distancing guidance and the needs of the child. It may not be possible, or appropriate, for the usual face-to-face contact to happen at this time and keeping in touch may need to take place virtually. We expect the spirit of any contact orders made in relation to children in care to be maintained and will look to social workers to determine how best to support those valuable family interactions based on the circumstances of each case.The operational guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-childrens-social-care-services/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-local-authorities-on-childrens-social-care.Social distancing guidance is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people.

Foreign Students: Coronavirus

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department has plans to update the International Education Strategy as a result of the covid-19 pandemic.

Michelle Donelan: The International Education Strategy,  published in March 2019,  by the Department for Education and the Department for International Trade, set out a commitment to review progress following its publication.  The review, which we intend to publish this autumn, will ensure that the International Education Strategy responds to this new context and the challenges that are posed.

Universities: Admissions

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what plans he has made to support universities in the event that there is a significant decrease in student numbers in 2020-21.

Michelle Donelan: The government recognises that the COVID-19 outbreak will have an unparalleled impact on all elements of the global and UK economy. The higher education (HE) sector, including student recruitment, is no exception. We have been working closely with the sector to monitor the likely impacts of COVID-19 on student numbers in 2020-21. We understand that the COVID-19 outbreak, and a possible reduction in overall student numbers, poses significant challenges.In response to this and calls from the sector, on 4 May my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, announced a package of measures to stabilise university admissions this autumn and ensure sustainability in HE at a time of unprecedented uncertainty.Temporary student number controls will be put in place for domestic and EU students for academic year 2020/21 to ensure a fair, structured distribution of students across providers. Provider-level student number controls will be determined based on provider forecasts and allow for 5% growth above this. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, will also have the discretion to allocate an additional 10,000 places on top of the controls, of which 5,000 will be allocated to students studying nursing or allied health courses, to ensure growing numbers that will support our vital public services. This measure will only apply to full-time UK or EU-domiciled undergraduate students, with certain specified exemptions. These controls will not apply to international (non-EU) students.The Office for Students (OfS), the regulator in England, will also consult on a new temporary condition of registration. The OfS’ proposed condition would prohibit registered providers from engaging in any form of conduct which, in the opinion of the OfS, could reasonably have a material negative effect on the stability or integrity of the English HE sector.The government has also reprofiled tuition fee payments, expected to be worth £2.6 billion, for providers so that they receive more cash in the first term of academic year 2020/21. The government has also announced that £100 million of public funding will be brought forward to the current academic year to help protect vital university research activities in England. Confirmed providers are also eligible to apply for the government’s financial support schemes, which are estimated by the OfS to be worth at least £700 million to the sector.Universities have an integral part to play in our economy, society and culture, which is highlighted now more than ever through their leading role in the COVID-19 outbreak. That is why we have introduced a package of measures to boost support for university students, stabilise the admissions system and ease the pressures on universities’ finances.I have written to all Honourable Members, with full details of the package, which have also been published on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-support-package-for-universities-and-students.

Children: Coronavirus

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 4 May 2020 to Question 40545 on Children's Return to School, what (a) steps his Department is taking with the sector and (b) additional plans he has to work with the sector to determine how children will return to school.

Nick Gibb: The Department is currently working closely with the sector to determine the best way for schools to open for more pupils when the time is right, in line with the five key tests set out by the Government. There continues to be extensive engagement with teaching unions and other school stakeholder organisations both at a ministerial and official level.

Children: Social Services and Special Educational Needs

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many local authorities have requested easements on statutory duties for (a) children’s social care and (b) special educational needs provision since the start of the covid-19 outbreak; and what assessment he has made of the effect of those absences on the adequacy of provision of those services.

Vicky Ford: As both my right hon. Friends, the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer, have made clear, the Government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID-19.Our latest guidance on supporting vulnerable children is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-schools-and-other-educational-settings.Following the regulation changes made on Friday 24 April, decisions to make use of the flexibilities provided for children’s social care need to be agreed at senior manager level and decisions properly recorded. The amendments should only be used when absolutely necessary and must be consistent with the overarching safeguarding and welfare duties that remain in place. Guidance relating to the regulation changes is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-childrens-social-care-services.The temporary changes to special educational needs and disabilities law came into force on Friday 1 May. They modify various duties on local authorities, health commissioning bodies and others, principally in relation to education, health and care needs assessments and plans.Detail of the rationale for the changes and the intended impact is set out in:The Coronavirus Act 2020 Modification of section 42 of the Children and Families Act 2014 (England) Notice 2020, which is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/modification-notice-ehc-plans-legislation-changes; andThe Explanatory Memorandum to The Special Educational Needs and Disability (Coronavirus) (Amendment) Regulations 2020, which is available here: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/471/memorandum/contents.These are rapidly developing circumstances. We continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.

Children: Coronavirus

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if he will enable (a) schools and (b) education authorities to impose penalties on parents that do not permit their children to return to school on account of a fear of contracting covid-19; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: Parents of pupils not currently in school due to closures will not be penalised, and there are no current plans for this to change when schools begin to reopen.

Ministry of Justice

Courts

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of cases in the Civil Courts are currently outstanding and awaiting a trial date.

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many active cases in the Civil Courts are yet to be completed.

Chris Philp: The information requested is not held centrally. The information available shows that a large number of civil orders are still being made with the number of orders at about 70% of the pre-covid baseline.

Prison Sentences

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of sentences of less than six months in reducing reoffending rates.

Chris Philp: We are clear that sentencing must match the severity of a crime, and public protection is our priority.The latest proven reoffending rate for adult offenders released from sentences of six months or less in the quarter January to March 2018 was almost two thirds (64.8%).If we are to break the cycle of reoffending, solutions will often lie in community sentences, including those which address offenders’ behaviour, answer their mental health and alcohol or drug misuse needs, or provide reparation for the benefit of the wider community. However, sentencers should continue to have the option of imposing a short custodial sentence, where appropriate.In the Queen’s speech in December, the Government announced plans to introduce new sentencing laws. Ahead of any legislation, we intend to canvass proposals in a White Paper. This will contain proposals for community penalties that offer an appropriate level of punishment, while tackling the underlying drivers of re-offending.

Courts: Coronavirus

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State fo Justice, what plans he has to ensure that members of the (a) public and (b) media can attend face-to-face court hearings during the covid-19 outbreak.

Chris Philp: Open justice remains a fundamental principle of the operation of courts and tribunals and access to our ‘Open’ courts remains available. In all other jurisdictions where there is a public hearing, we are committed to ensuring that the media and other members of the public can continue to access these hearings.A range of measures are available that will continue to support the principles of open justice. The media will have access to court lists that state the method in which the hearing is being held, so they can make arrangements to attend in person or request remote observation.We are working hard to keep our justice system functioning during this unprecedented public health emergency. Our priorities are to maintain access to justice and to protect the safety of all who are involved, including court staff, judges, jurors, witnesses, legal professionals and observers.We are keeping our estate under regular review to ensure that all buildings in use support this priority and apply equally to those entering our buildings.

Courts: Coronavirus

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what his policy is on public access to court proceedings during the covid-19 outbreak.

Chris Philp: Open justice remains a fundamental principle of the operation of courts and tribunals, so that what happens during proceedings can be done transparently. In all jurisdictions where there is an open hearing, in a physical setting, the longstanding arrangements for media and public access remain in place albeit with rules relating to social distancing. We would ask members of the public to observe the Government guidance on social distancing to ensure the safety of themselves and others. In addition, the media, public and other interested parties can contact the court, in advance, to make arrangements to observe open hearings remotely. As before, the court may determine that a hearing should be held in private if it is in the interests of justice to do so.

Courts: Coronavirus

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, when public access to court rooms will resume after the covid-19 outbreak.

Chris Philp: Open justice remains a fundamental principle of the operation of courts and tribunals and public access in our ‘Open’ courts has been maintained during the Covid-19 outbreak.In all jurisdictions where there is a public hearing, we are committed to ensuring that the media and other members of the public can continue to access these hearings. A range of measures are available that will continue to support the principles of open justice.We are keeping our estate safe, secure and ensuring all buildings in use will allow for social distancing in line with public health guidance.

Prisoners: Coronavirus

Peter Kyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of prisoners newly admitted from courts have been tested for covid-19 before arrival at prison, since 4 March 2020.

Lucy Frazer: Although there is some testing conducted on symptomatic prisoners, COVID-19 testing is not as yet a routine part of the prison reception process. New cohorting strategies have been developed however, and as a result prisons are implementing units to isolate the sick, shield the vulnerable and quarantine new arrivals for a period of 14 days to reduce risk of transmission.All new receptions into prison are screened for signs and symptoms of COVID-19 by healthcare professionals.

Prisons: Wales

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of locating a temporary prison in the north west of Wales.

Lucy Frazer: We have no plans to locate a temporary prison in North West Wales. HMP Berwyn opened in February 2017, with the potential to hold up to 2,106 men. There is adequate capacity to meet the current demand in North Wales, and across the wider estate in England and Wales. We took decisive action in March to minimise movements between jails to avoid thousands of prisoners and staff becoming infected with the virus. Strong further measures were introduced to ease pressure on prisons with the early release of low-risk offenders, temporary expansion of the estate, and work to reduce the number of those held on remand.

Marriage: Coronavirus

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to amend the law on marriage to allow marriages to take place during the covid-19 lockdown.

Alex Chalk: The Government acknowledges the significant upheaval that Covid-19 is causing for couples who were looking to marry at this time. We are exploring what changes might be possible to facilitate marriages at this time, and in line with Public Health England guidance on social distancing.

Courts: Closures

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the report entitled Transforming courts and tribunals – a progress update, published by the National Audit Office on 6 September 2019, HC2638, if  he will review the proposed closure of  77 more courts by 2025/26.

Chris Philp: HM Courts & Tribunals Service keeps its operational estate under review against our three core estates principles of ensuring access to justice for all, delivering value for money and enabling efficiency in the longer term. The reference in the National Audit Office report to 77 further courts closing by 2025/26 relates to a forecast which was current at the time of their report, and based on analysis of the projected reduction in capacity requirement generated by the Reform Programme. Due to Covid-19 there are no current active consultations on the closure of further courts. Any future proposals for changes to the court and tribunal estate will be announced by the Lord Chancellor and will be consulted on where appropriate, keeping in mind at all times the need to maintain access to Justice.

Courts: Video Conferencing

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent assessment he has made of the (a) effectiveness and (b) challenges of operating virtual courts.

Chris Philp: In response to the pandemic, we have urgently scaled up our capacity to support hearings to take place using telephone or video technology, enabling hearings to continue remotely and reducing the number of people who need to come to a court or tribunal building. We are clear that audio or video-supported hearings provide another route to justice, but may not be right for everyone. The decision as to how a hearing is conducted is a matter for the judge, magistrates or panel, who will determine how best to uphold the interests of justice.While we have rapidly increased the use of video and telephone hearings, they are not new. Audio and video technology has long played a part in the justice system and is now proving crucial to us in maintaining a functioning justice system during the pandemic. However the rapid increase in the use of video and telephone hearings represents significant change, and we are taking the opportunity to carefully monitor and evaluate the use of video and technology in courts, so that we can improve our services and ensure that they are as effective as possible in providing access to justice. In the process of continuous improvement, we are listening to feedback from the judiciary, users, staff and other key stakeholders, such as legal practitioners, to understand the impact and the success of the technology.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service and Ministry of Justice: Communication

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how much (a) his Department and (b) the HM Courts & Tribunals Service spent on communications and public relations in the 2019-20 financial year.

Chris Philp: I refer to our response to PQ 3719, answered on 24 January, where we disclosed Ministry of Justice and HMCTS communications spend for fiscal year 2018/19. Equivalent figures for fiscal year 2019/20 are currently subject to audit by the National Audit Office and not yet final.

Department for International Trade

Department for International Trade: Remote Working

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many staff in her Department have formal arrangements to work from home during the covid-19 outbreak.

Greg Hands: The Department for International Trade (DIT), including UK Export Finance, has been operating a policy of working from home by default for those staff living and working in the United Kingdom, in line with UK Government guidelines. We have provided guidance on working from home, including information on the safe and secure use of technology and data, as well as advice on wellbeing, mental health and staying connected. There are a small number of essential staff who are working in the office where work cannot be undertaken remotely. We estimate that this is currently in the region of 10 at any one time. This is by exception and requires prior approval from a senior manager. For our workforce based overseas, we are working closely with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to adopt appropriate working arrangements based on the specific circumstances of the countries we are operating in. This includes temporary return to the UK in some instances. The vast majority of DIT staff in overseas locations have the ability to work remotely and have been instructed to do so, in line with UK Government advice.

Trade Agreements: USA

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether the Government is proceeding with trade talks with the US Administration during the covid-19 outbreak.

Greg Hands: On 5 May, my Rt Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade and the US Trade Representative launched negotiations for a UK-US Free Trade Agreement and agreed an ambitious timetable for virtual talks. The joint statement issued confirming the start of negotiations can be found on www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-and-us-start-trade-negotiations. Negotiations will be carried out by video conference, ensuring that talks can progress during the Covid-19 pandemic. More trade is essential if the UK is to overcome the unprecedented economic challenge posed by Covid-19, and new trade agreements are an important part of the long-term economic recovery, providing new opportunities for businesses and entrepreneurs who have suffered most in this difficult period.

Overseas Trade: Israel

Alexander Stafford: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to strengthen the UK’s trade relationship with Israel in medical research and development during the covid-19 pandemic.

Greg Hands: UK and Israeli experts have been closely cooperating on medical research and development throughout the course of the COVID-19 response, including in relation to testing, clinical response, epidemiological management, and the development of vaccines and treatments. This cooperation has been extremely helpful to both sides and has resulted in a number of opportunities for further collaboration.

Trade: Freight

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what estimate she has made of the (a) level of decline in the availability of global freight services and (b) the effect of that decline on costs to UK exporters; and if she will make a statement.

Greg Hands: The Government recognises that freight operators and their workforce (including all those working in supply chains) are vital to the continued flow of critical goods. Freight is currently moving effectively across borders into and out of the UK, but Covid-19 continues to present significant risks and we are working across Government and the devolved administrations, with industry, to mitigate and manage these risks. The Government continues to engage with UK exporters to understand the challenges that they are facing as a result of Covid-19, that affect their ability to trade with countries. To assist exporting businesses through these challenging times, the Government has announced an unprecedented package of measures which include the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), business rate holidays and the newly launched Bounce Back loans. In addition to this, UK Export Finance (UKEF) is providing support to exporting businesses facing disruptions through export finance and insurance.

Customs: Electronic Signatures

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Justice on the potential merits of removing the requirement for physical signatures under the (a) Bills of Exchange Act 1882 and (b) Carriage of Goods by Sea Act 1992 to (i) help facilitate paperless trade and (ii) mitigate the effects of covid-19 on international trade; and if she will make a statement.

Greg Hands: This Department is closely engaged and working alongside the Ministry of Justice, and a number of other key Government Departments on improving the processes for handling of both customs and maritime documents.  We are committed to the interests of traders in the UK’s future trading arrangements and to ensure the best possible outcome for UK businesses and consumers.

Investment: Coronavirus

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment she has made of the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on the flow of foreign direct investment.

Greg Hands: The outlook for FDI in the UK will depend on the duration of the economic disruption and how businesses and markets respond. The Department is continuing its engagement with foreign investors to understand the effect of Covid-19’s outbreak on their investment plans and to support FDI flows to the UK.

Trade Agreements

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent assessment she has made of the  adequacy of current processes for the scrutiny of international trade agreements.

Greg Hands: The Government is committed to transparency and will ensure that parliamentarians, UK citizens and businesses have access to the information they need on our trade negotiations. The Secretary of State laid a statement on 6 February, setting out the Government’s proposed approach to FTAs with priority partners including the USA, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. On 2 March, the Government published its objectives and initial scoping assessment for the proposed US trade deal and the Secretary of State for International Trade made an Oral Statement to Parliament. Once negotiations are underway the Government will continue to keep Parliament informed via regular updates. At the end of each negotiation, any free trade agreement treaty will be subject to the robust ratification procedures set out in the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act (CRaG) 2010, including the opportunity for Parliament to scrutinise the treaty before it is ratified.

BAE Systems: Inspections

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, when her Department last used its powers under Article 31 of the Export Control Order 2008 to undertake an ad hoc inspection of BAE System’s weekly freighter flight from Warton Aerodrome in Lancashire to Ta’if in Saudi Arabia; and what the outcome was of that inspection.

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: Inspections of records under section 31 are in relation to a company’s use of general licences and not specific events such as regular freighter flights. Their purpose is to get assurance that users of general licences meet the terms and conditions of their licences. The frequency of inspections varies from six months to three years, taking into account the track record of compliance; types of licences utilised; knowledge and experience of the business in relation to export controls; and frequency of usage. The BAE site at Warton was last inspected on 5 and 6 April 2017 and covered three separate BAE Systems companies. The outcome of compliance inspections is commercially sensitive.

Trade Agreements: Coronavirus

Suzanne Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps she is taking to ensure that negotiations on bilateral trade agreements continue during the covid-19 pandemic.

Greg Hands: We have now launched negotiations virtually with the US. The UK government remains in regular contact with the US, Japan, Australia and New Zealand and we will jointly decide how to proceed with each negotiation in a way which respects public health. Our partners remaining willing to make progress on high quality free trade agreements. Increasing transatlantic trade can help our economies bounce back from the economic challenge posed by COVID-19.

Overseas Trade: Coronavirus

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, whether she has made an estimate of the changes in UK imports and exports resulting from the covid-19 pandemic in this financial year.

Greg Hands: Department for International Trade indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for International Trade: Secondment

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many staff of her Department have been seconded to other departments to work on the Government's response to the covid-19 pandemic.

Greg Hands: Department for International Trade indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Overseas Trade: Coronavirus

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what (a) discussions she has had with and (b)  representations she has received from the maritime industry on the effect of the covid-19 pandemic on (i) imports and (ii) exports.

Greg Hands: This Department is working closely with the maritime industry, including regular contact with the umbrella organisation for the sector; ‘Maritime UK’. We have heard directly from the sector the effect of the pandemic on their ability to trade.In addition to the Government’s overall package of support for business, on 24 April, we announced an unprecedented package of measures supporting 31 critical freight routes between Great Britain, Northern Ireland and mainland Europe: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-government-package-to-protect-ferry-freight-routes. These measures will support maritime companies to continue to trade globally. We continue to engage with the sector to hear their views.

Trade Agreements: USA

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, if she will make an assessment of the implications for her Department's policy of the role of the US Congress in scrutinising international trade agreements.

Greg Hands: In formulating our approach to scrutiny of international trade agreements we have considered the approach of international comparators, including the United States and countries with similar Westminster-style democracies such as New Zealand and Canada, and drawn on international best practice. The role that the US Congress plays in scrutinising international trade agreements is a product of the constitutional make-up of the United States. Similarly, the United Kingdom’s own scrutiny regime must reflect our own unique and specific constitutional system. The UK Parliament will be able to conduct scrutiny at every stage of the process in a way that is appropriate to the UK constitutional context. The Government’s approach strikes the right balance between allowing Parliament to effectively scrutinise our trade policy, whilst maintaining the ability of the Government to negotiate flexibly in the best interests of the UK.

Trade Agreements: Video Conferencing

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what video conferencing system her Department will be using to conduct trade negotiations.

Greg Hands: Department for International Trade indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Trade Agreements: USA

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of confidentiality for proposals by US negotiators in relation to a future UK-US trade deal for (a) 5 years and (b) until that trade deal is concluded; and if she will make a statement.

Greg Hands: We are committed to an open and transparent approach to trade negotiations and will report on the outcome of every negotiation round to ensure the public, Parliament and interest groups are informed of progress. The exchange of letters between DIT and USTR setting out information sharing arrangements, including the confidentiality of information, is standard practice ahead of trade negotiations. Similar arrangements were published for the UK-US Trade and Investment Working Group in 2017. The arrangement we have reached does not supersede the government’s duty under the Freedom of Information Act, and is compatible with the Cabinet Office guidance on how the government should exchange classified or sensitive information internationally, with other government or organisations The five year classification period for confidential information is also in line with both UK and US guidance.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Voluntary Work: Protective Clothing

Wes Streeting: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government whether the Government has plans to classify haberdasheries as essential businesses in order to provide supplies to volunteers producing personal protective equipment.

Christopher Pincher: Haberdasheries have been asked to close along with many other retail premises to minimise the risk of the spread of the coronavirus. It is positive to see a public desire to volunteer to help in the response to the virus and it is vital that all frontline staff get the personal protective equipment (PPE) they need.At all times we have been consistently guided by scientific advice to protect lives. The current advice from SAGE is that relaxing business closures measures too quickly could risk damage to public health, our economy, and the sacrifices we have all made. The government has set up five tests that must be met before the lockdown measures (including the closure of certain retail businesses) can be lifted. These consider NHS capacity, death rates, transmission rates, availability of PPE, and avoidance of a second peak of the virus.In the meantime, online retail is still open and encouraged and postal and delivery service will continue to run. This could enable the activities of haberdasheries to continue.

Local Government: Coronavirus

Dr James Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans his Department has to audit the performance of local resilience forums during the covid-19 outbreak.

Mr Simon Clarke: With any emergency each local resilience forum partnership will, as a matter of course, seek to identify and then learn lessons from the response. Matters pertaining to Welsh local resilience forums are for the Welsh Government to answer.

Rented Housing: Coronavirus

Tom Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the (a) ban on evictions for renters and (b) mortgage holidays for landlords during the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make it the Government's policy that landlords and tenants work together to establish an affordable repayment plan for rent arrears.

Christopher Pincher: Any decision to alter the duration of the emergency measures brought in to support landlords and tenants during this time will be informed by Public Health England guidance. The Government will take further action, including extending the measures, if necessaryThe Government is constantly monitoring the measures it has announced in response to COVID-19, including mortgage holidays. If, following the three-month mortgage holiday, a landlord is unable to begin paying their mortgage, they should reach out to their lender to discuss their options.  The Government has delivered unprecedented financial support to assist tenants with living costs, including rental payments. We have also been clear in guidance that there is a need for landlords to offer support and understanding to tenants – and any guarantor – who may see their income fluctuate. This could include reaching a temporary agreement not to seek possession action for a period of time and instead, pause payments or accept a lower level of rent, or agree a plan to pay off arrears at a later date.

District Councils: Finance

Mr Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps the Government is taking to provide support to district councils in two-tier local authority areas that are facing reductions in income and increases in expenditure as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

Mr Simon Clarke: Allocations of the additional £1.6 billion support for councils to respond to coronavirus were announced on Tuesday 28 April. This is an unprecedented package of support which responds to the range of pressures councils have told us they are facing and takes the total amount provided to local councils to over £3.2 billion. Across both waves of funding, almost 70 per cent of district councils will receive £1 million or more in support, whilst 90 per cent of the funding will go to social care authorities.

Local Government Finance: Coronavirus

Mr Ben Bradshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will make an assessment of the feasibility of temporarily removing statutory constraints on local government finance to help local authorities manage the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on their finances.

Mr Simon Clarke: Government does not currently intend to temporarily remove any of the statutory framework that governs local government finance. However, changes have been made to the statutory audit framework to delay the requirement to prepare and approve draft accounts by the end of May. Instead, they must be approved by 31 August 2020 at the latest or may be approved earlier, wherever possible.  In addition, Government has announced £3.2 billion un-ringfenced funding to support councils to deliver essential front line services – this is an unprecedented sum of money and demonstrates the Government's commitment to support the sector. In addition, we have agreed to defer £2.6 billion in business rates payments, and have brought forward £850 million in social care grants, to ease immediate pressures on local authority cash flow.

Buildings: Safety

Mike Amesbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department will take to engage with tenants and leaseholders on the (a) scope and (b) delivery of the new Building Safety Fund.

Christopher Pincher: Leaseholder and tenant safety is at the core of the Governments work on building safety. We have been in regular contact with tenants and leaseholders and/or organisations representing them about unsafe non-Aluminium Composite Material (ACM) cladding in high-rise residential buildings. These exchanges contributed to the announcement in the Budget of the £1 billion Building Safety Fund. This included a roundtable between leaseholders and the Secretary of State shortly before the announcement of the Building Safety Fund where he heard directly the issues they face and engagement will continue as the work on the Fund develops.The Fund will support the removal and replacement of unsafe non- ACM cladding in high-rise residential buildings and will therefore benefit leaseholders and tenants in those buildings. However, it is the responsible entity for the building, such as an eligible building freeholder or management company, who will need to register for the Fund when it opens and leaseholders or tenants should contact their responsible entity about their specific building and registering. The Government has also allocated additional funding to Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE) to provide independent, free, initial advice to leaseholders on building safety issues to ensure they are aware of their rights and are supported to understand the terms of their leases. LEASE will act as the point of contact for leaseholders with questions about the fund when it opens.

Planning Permission: Coronavirus

Catherine West: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department has provided to local authorities on maintaining public involvement in the planning process during the covid-19 outbreak.

Christopher Pincher: The Government has made clear that local planning authorities should continue to prioritise decision-making during these challenging times to ensure that the planning system continues to function, especially when this when this will support the local economy. This includes maintaining public involvement in the planning process, for instance through the use of virtual planning committees and innovative ways of publicising planning applications. We have recently issued further guidance to this effect.

Private Rented Housing: Natural Gas

Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will publish the risk assessment that his Department commissioned when it advised landlords to continue to carry out in-home gas boiler inspections during the covid-19 outbreak.

Christopher Pincher: The Health and Safety Executive is the regulator and independent enforcer of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 and oversees the Gas Safe Register under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The Health & Safety Executive has made clear that landlords should not suspend all annual gas safety checks at this time as it could put tenants at risk of serious illness or fatalities from gas explosions or carbon monoxide poisoning, particularly as people are spending all or most of their time at home. It is the responsibility of the dutyholder to assess on a case by case basis the risk of carrying out gas safety checks in a property. HSE guidance can be found here: https://www.gassaferegister.co.uk/help-and-advice/covid-19-advice-and-guidance/landlords/.Our guidance is clear that no work should be carried out in any household which is isolating or where an individual is being shielded, unless the work is to remedy a direct risk to the safety of the household. Where entry is required for emergency repairs landlords should take every possible step to minimise contact with residents and follow government guidance on tradespeople working in people homes, which may be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/guidance-for-employers-and-businesses-on-coronavirus-covid-19#social-distancing-in-the-workplace---principles.

Temporary Accommodation: Coronavirus

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether he has had discussions with the Home Secretary on ensuring that there is funding for emergency accommodation during the covid-19 outbreak for people with no recourse to public funds; and if he will make a statement.

Luke Hall: On 2 May, the Government announced an unprecedented £76 million package of support to ensure the most vulnerable in society get the support they need during the pandemic.A change to the rules will also mean that those fleeing domestic abuse and facing homelessness as a result will be automatically considered as priority by their council for housing – ensuring more survivors of domestic abuse have access to a safe home.The Government is aware of concerns about those with no recourse to public funds experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 crisis.We are ensuring local authorities are supported, with £3.2 million in targeted funding to help support individuals who are sleeping rough off the streets, and an additional £3.2 billion provided to local authorities as part of the wider government response to the COVID-19 pandemic.This funding has been provided to help local authorities to reduce risks to public health and to support individuals on the basis of need.The legal position on those with no recourse to public funds has not been amended.The Government recognises that these are unprecedented times, and expects local authorities to support people who are sleeping rough, and also to minimise unnecessary risks to public health, acting within the law.The Secretary of State regularly engages with colleagues across Whitehall, including his counterpart at the Home Office.

Local Government: Coronavirus

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department has taken to ensure the adequate provision of (a) local resilience forums and (b) local authority services for (i) shielded and (i) non-shielded vulnerable individuals as part of its response to the covid-19 outbreak.

Christopher Pincher: To support those who have been identified as clinically extremely vulnerable to the COVID-19 virus, we are working with local authorities, the food industry, local resilience and emergency partners, and voluntary groups to ensure these individuals have both support and access to essential items such as groceries and medicines through deliveries and priority supermarket delivery slots, if they do not have alternative means of accessing these.We are sharing data with local authorities on deliveries, including on planned deliveries in their area; where individuals have unmet basic care needs; or where individuals require assistance lifting food into their homes. Guidance has been issued to local authorities, most recently on 24 April.The Government is also supporting local authorities to identify and support vulnerable people who fall outside the shielding programme. We have enabled local authorities to use NHS volunteers who registered with the GoodSam app. The system is also now open for self-referrals. The Government and local authorities are also working with supermarkets so they can offer priority delivery slots to non-shielded vulnerable people.In addition, we have provided over £3.2 billion for local councils to manage the immediate impacts of coronavirus.

Local Government: Coronavirus

Martyn Day: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that (a) local resilience forums and (b) local authorities work with the local voluntary and community sector to provide coordinated support to people affected by the covid-19 outbreak.

Mr Simon Clarke: My Department continues to work closely with and local agencies, including the local voluntary and community sector (VCS), to manage the COVID-19 pandemic.The local voluntary and community sector, and volunteers, are essential partners for many local support services – both in ‘normal’ times and even more so in the COVID-19 response.Local Resilience Forums (LRFs) and local authorities have well established structures in place to work with the voluntary and community sector and, in response to COVID-19, are working alongside VCS partners and are coordinating volunteer support. This includes volunteer hubs or centres in some areas.To support local engagement of the VCS, Government has provided support and guidance on partnership working, as well as announcing a £750 million support package to assist VCS organisations. The NHS Volunteer Responders are also open to referrals from local authorities and LRFs.

Hospitals: Construction

Alberto Costa: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that hospitals are able to access Section 106 and Community Infrastructure Levy contributions from developers.

Christopher Pincher: Contributions from developers play an important role in delivering the infrastructure that new homes require. Local authorities can use funds secured through the Community Infrastructure Levy and section 106 planning obligations to fund hospitals and other health and social care facilities where appropriate. They will need to balance this against other funding priorities, including affordable housing. We will continue to work closely with local authorities and the sector to understand any issues around the use of developer contributions in the current context.

Housing: Overcrowding

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the New Policy Institute’s report, Accounting for the Variation in the Confirmed Covid-19 Caseload across England,published in April 2020, what steps he is taking to work with (a) local authorities (b) housing associations and (c) hotels to provide accommodation for people who are unable to (i) shield and (ii) self-isolate during the covid-19 outbreak due to overcrowded living conditions.

Christopher Pincher: MHCLG continues to work closely with local authorities to manage the impacts of COVID-19 on the most vulnerable in our society.Over 90 per cent of those on the streets at the beginning of the crisis known to local authorities have now been made offers of safe accommodation – ensuring some of the most vulnerable in society are protected from the pandemic. This includes those rough sleeping or who have been living in accommodation with communal sleeping spaces such as night shelters.The Government announced that councils across England will receive another £1.6 billion in additional funding to enable them to respond to COVID-19 pressures across the services they deliver, stepping up support for services helping the most vulnerable, including homeless people. This takes the total funding to support councils to respond to the pandemic to £3.2 billion. This is in addition to £3.2 million in targeted funding for councils to support vulnerable rough sleepers.In addition, we have been working with the Greater London Authority and a number of hotel chains across the country to secure accommodation for rough sleepers and we have introduced a centrally coordinated process across Government for block booking hotels.The Government has made clear that no one should be without a roof over their head, and this funding further demonstrates our commitment to assist the most vulnerable in society.

Uk Shared Prosperity Fund

Nick Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government what his plans are for the consultation on the Shared Prosperity Fund.

Mr Simon Clarke: The Government has committed to creating the UK Shared Prosperity Fund as the successor to EU structural funds. The fund will bind together the whole of the United Kingdom, tackling inequality and deprivation in each of our four nations. The Government recognises the importance of reassuring local areas on the future of local growth funding now we have left the European Union, and of providing clarity on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Government officials have held 25 engagement events across the UK, attended by over 500 representatives from a breadth of sectors, which has helped inform progress on policy design. Government looks forward to continuing to work closely with partners as we develop the fund.

Allotments: Coronavirus

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Government plans to increase the provision of allotments (a) during and (b) after the covid-19 outbreak.

Luke Hall: The Government has no plans to increase the provision of allotments during or after the covid-19 outbreak.Local authorities have responsibility for allotments in their area. The decision to increase local provision is one taken at a local level based on individual circumstances.

High Rise Flats: Insulation

Stephen McPartland: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps his Department is taking to support the RICS External Wall Fire Review process and help people sell their high-rise flats.

Christopher Pincher: The ‘EWS1’ process, developed by RICS, is designed to support valuations of properties in residential buildings over 18 metres. It is important that information from those assessments are shared appropriately to support valuations for all the properties in any assessed block . An industry group is designing a data-sharing portal to facilitate this. The Government will help support this, with some funding, as required.

Parish Councils

Steve Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to the postponement of local government elections during the covid-19 outbreak, whether his Department plans to enable parish councils to co-opt new councillors in the event that there have been no requests for an election.

Mr Simon Clarke: The Local Government and Police and Crime Commissioner (Coronavirus) (Postponement of Elections and Referendums) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020/395) postpone parish council by-elections that would otherwise be required to be held by 5 May 2021 until 6 May 2021.   These Regulations came in to force on 7 April and are designed to allow that co-opting can be used to fill vacancies in the usual way.

Homelessness: Coronavirus

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether it is the policy of the Government to reimburse local authorities the full cost of providing accommodation for homeless people during the covid-19 crisis when the people being housed are not allowed to have recourse to public funding; and if he will make a statement.

Luke Hall: The Government is aware of concerns about those with no recourse to public funds experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 crisis.We are ensuring local authorities are supported, with £3.2 million in targeted funding to help support individuals who are sleeping rough off the streets, and an additional £3.2 billion provided to local authorities as part of the wider government response to the COVID-19 pandemic.This funding has been provided to help local authorities to reduce risks to public health and to support individuals on the basis of need.The legal position on those with no recourse to public funds has not been amended.The Government recognises that these are unprecedented times, and expects local authorities to support people who are sleeping rough, and also to minimise unnecessary risks to public health, acting within the law.

Horticulture: Coronavirus

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 4 May 2020 to Question 40963 on Horticulture: Coronavirus, if he will place in the Library a copy of the (a) scientific advice and (b) risk assessment evaluation which informed the decision that garden centres should remain closed during the covid-19 outbreak; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Simon Clarke: Garden centres in England may open from Wednesday 13 May, and the Regulations for England will be updated to provide clarity to garden centre owners, and the public. We strongly encourage both employers and customers to continue to follow social distancing guidance at all times in order to protect public health and our economy. Advice on social distancing is published on gov.uk https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/guidance-for-employers-and-businesses-on-coronavirus-covid-19At all times we have been consistently guided by scientific advice to protect lives. HMG have published evidence discussed at SAGE on gov.uk (https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/scientific-advisory-group-for-emergencies-sage-coronavirus-covid-19-response). These documents show the scientific evidence that helped shape SAGE advice that went to Ministers and COBR. Further research is being continually developed and used to inform advice to decision makers and we will ensure this is published as soon as it is no longer under consideration.

Buildings: Safety

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress is being made in extending the support available through the Building Safety Fund to private leaseholders with properties cladded in non-ACM flammable materials.

Christopher Pincher: We are working to make this new funding available as quickly as possible and will publish the prospectus for the fund in May, and open for registrations soon after.

Horticulture: Coronavirus

Munira Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of enabling garden centres to re-open with appropriate social distancing measures due to the covid-19 outbreak.

Mr Simon Clarke: We know that this time of year is crucial for the horticulture industry. As such, garden centres in England may open from Wednesday 13 May, and the Regulations for England will be updated to provide clarity to garden centre owners, and the public. We strongly encourage both employers and customers to continue to follow social distancing guidance at all times in order to protect public health and our economy. Advice on social distancing is published on gov.uk https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/guidance-for-employers-and-businesses-on-coronavirus-covid-19

Planning Permission: Judicial Review

Helen Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of reducing the time limit for bringing a judicial review in planning cases to six weeks, as implemented by the Government on 1 July 2013.

Christopher Pincher: Reducing the time limit for bringing a judicial review claim from 3 months to 6 weeks provides developers with more certainty to start construction of a project sooner after planning permission has been granted. We are not aware of any evidence to suggest that this measure has prejudiced access to justice for genuine claimants.

Small Businesses: Coronavirus

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, if he will issue guidance to local authorities on the definition of eligibility for access to the £117 million fund for discretionary grant payments to businesses announced on 1 May 2020; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Simon Clarke: The Government has allocated additional funding to local authorities in England in the form of a discretionary grant fund of up to £617m. This will be divided between English local authorities in proportion to the amount they will pay out under the existing grant schemes (Small Business Grant Fund and Retail, Hospitality & Leisure Grant Fund). Local authorities are responsible for defining precise eligibility for this fund. The following businesses should be considered as a priority:Businesses in shared workspaces;Regular market traders who do not have their own business rates assessment;B&Bs which pay Council Tax instead of business rates; andCharity properties in receipt of charitable business rates relief which would otherwise have been eligible for Small Business Rates Relief or Rural Rate Relief. Local authorities may choose to pay grants to businesses outside of the outlined priority areas, according to local economic need, so long as the grants are aimed at:Businesses with ongoing fixed building-related costsBusinesses which can demonstrate that they have suffered a significant fall in income due to the Covid-19 crisisBusiness with fewer than 50 employeesBusinesses that were trading on 11th MarchBusinesses already in receipt of the Small Business grant, a Retail, Hospitality and Leisure grant or Self-employed Income Support Scheme payment are not eligible. Guidance will be published on the discretionary grant scheme in due course following consultation with local authorities.

Small Business Grants Fund: Dorset

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much of the £617 million of funding allocated to local authorities on 1 May 2020 to enable them to make discretionary grant payments to businesses is available for (a) Dorset Council and (b) BCP Council; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Simon Clarke: On 1 May the Government announced a further up to £617 million available to local authorities to support those small businesses with high fixed property-related costs but that are not eligible for the current grant schemes. This is an additional 5 per cent uplift to the £12.33 billion funding previously announced for the Small Business Grants Fund (SBGF) and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund (RHLGF). We will confirm the exact amount to be available to each local authority in due course.

Ministry of Defence

Ministry of Defence: Remote Working

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many staff in his Department have formal arrangements to work from home during the covid-19 outbreak.

James Heappey: Defence's policy is that all employees should work from home during COVID-19 unless their work is business critical which requires them to be in the workplace. The Department believes that it is vital to support staff to enable them to meet their work and family commitments, particularly if they are caring for children following school closures, or other relative or friend. Advice and guidance on working remotely/flexibly is available in a toolkit; guidance in a "Coronavirus pandemic - working from home guidance" as well as; in a series of FAQs which are regularly updated. Employees working from home can request the use of a laptop, or, if they have a reasonable adjustment, specialist equipment which their line manager will make best endeavours that it is delivered. The key issue for Defence is to ensure that critical business continues as usual, and that its employees can meet their objectives. I am unable to give you figures on staff with formal arrangements: when scoping the relevant information for your request, it was established that in order to locate, retrieve and extract information in scope of the question would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold (DCT). The request exceeds the DCT as the department does not hold this information centrally and it would require reviewing the data for each directorate within the Department, its agencies and Frontline Commands individually.

Minesweepers

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the out of service dates are for each of the Royal Navy's Six Hunt-class MCMVs.

Jeremy Quin: On current plans, the Hunt Class Mine Countermeasures Vessels will leave service between 2029 and 2031.

Submarines: Coronavirus

Andrea Jenkyns: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps the Government is taking to minimise the risk of covid-19 amongst personnel in the Royal Navy Submarine Service.

James Heappey: Mitigation measures are being put in place to minimise the risk of COVID-19 onboard a submarine and to maintain the health and wellbeing of their ships' companies. The Submarine Service is following Public Health England (PHE) guidelines where practical for all personnel and, to reduce the risk of transmission, further emphasis is being placed on the cleaning of communal areas and personal hygiene. Measures have been introduced prior to sailing which involve the whole ship's company quarantining onboard the submarine. In addition, personnel who are, or whose households are, symptomatic will be isolated before embarking, in accordance with PHE self-isolation guidelines.Any individual who experiences symptoms while at sea will isolate onboard in accordance with PHE guidelines and receive the appropriate medical attention, until either recovery is established or they can be safely removed and returned to shore.

AWACS

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, on what date the five E-7 Wedgetails are planned to enter service.

Jeremy Quin: Under the contract, the first of the RAF's fleet of E-7 Wedgetail aircraft is due to enter service with the RAF in 2023 with the final aircraft in the fleet entering service in late 2025 or early 2026.

AWACS

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, where the final assembly of his Department's five E7 Wedgetails is planned to be conducted.

Jeremy Quin: Boeing is finalising contractual arrangements for final assembly to ensure that the five E-7 Wedgetail aircraft ordered by the RAF can be delivered and converted for their military role in the UK.

Shipping: Procurement

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the main budget headings are for the £9 billion increase in ship procurement in the Defence and Equipment Plan 2019-2029; and if he will make a comparative assessment of those budget headings by project in the Defence and Equipment Plan 2018-2028 and 2019-2029.

Jeremy Quin: The Ministry of Defence is unable to identify a £9 billion increase for ship procurement from the 2018 and 2019 Equipment Plan reports. The total equipment budget for Navy Command (by Top Level Budget) reduced from £32.5 billion to £30.9 billion during the period covered by these reports (primarily reflecting an accounting adjustment in the allocation of support costs for Naval Bases), and the equipment budget for the Ships Operating Centre also reduced from £19.5 billion to £19.3 billion.

RAF Akrotiri

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason BAE Systems’s weekly freighter flight from Warton Aerodrome in Lancashire to Ta’if in Saudi Arabia routinely goes via RAF Akrotiri; and what interaction personnel at RAF Akrotiri have with the aircraft, its passengers and its cargo.

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what cargo on carried by BAE Systems’s weekly freighter flight from Warton Aerodrome in Lancashire to Ta’if in Saudi Arabia via RAF Akrotiri.

Sam Tarry: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, for what reason RAF Akrotiri refuels BAE Systems’ weekly freighter flight between Warton Aerodrome in Lancashire and Ta’if in Saudi Arabia; whether his Department is aware of the contents of the freight being delivered on those flights; and for what reason those flights have been assessed as essential during the covid-19 lockdown.

James Heappey: These BAE Systems operated flights provide logistics support for UK-supplied aircraft and systems operated by the Royal Saudi Air Force, which play a key role in the defence and security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. These flights night-stop at RAF Akrotiri, both inbound and outbound from Saudi Arabia, for the wellbeing of the crew, to refuel and to assure the security of the aircraft and its cargo. These flights do not carry passengers, nor is cargo loaded or off-loaded at RAF Akrotiri. During the present Covid-19 crisis the crews are provided with dedicated on-base accommodation, which allows them to be isolated fully from RAF Akrotiri personnel.

Iraq: Military Intervention

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Royal Air Force’s airstrike against Daesh in an isolated location west of Tuz Khurma in Northern Iraq on 10 April 2020 was in response to an attack by Daesh on Hashd al-Shaabi fighters in the district of Tuz Khurma on that day, and whether Hashd al-Shaabi requested that air strike.

James Heappey: The Royal Air Force airstrike on 10 April 2020 was not in response to an attack by Daesh on fighters from the Popular Mobilisation Forces, also known as Hashd al-Shaabi, and it was not in response to a request from that organisation.

Oman: Military Aid

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Government has an agreement to provide pilots for (a) non-combat and (b) combat situations for the Typhoon aircraft purchased by the Royal Air Force of Oman from BAE Systems.

James Heappey: The UK provides fewer than five RAF Typhoon pilots in role to serve on Loan Service. The Loan Service team is in place across the Sultan's Armed Forces to deliver advice, capability development and training directly to the Sultan's Armed Forces and is employed in a variety of roles to achieve this.

Oman: Air Force

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many UK personnel serve with the Royal Air Force of Oman’s (a) No. 8 Squadron and (b) No. 6 Squadron; and what the (i) rank and (ii) task is of those personnel.

James Heappey: Under the Loan Service agreement with Oman, the UK currently has fewer than five Loan Service personnel working with No. 8 and No. 6 Squadron. I am withholding the exact number of UK personnel to mitigate the risk of them being identified by the information provided. I am also withholding details relating to rank and role as disclosure would, or would likely, prejudice relations between the United Kingdom and another state.

Apache AH-64 Helicopters

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what modifications must be made to the AH-64E Apache in order for it to operate within UK airworthiness regulations; and what estimate he has made of the cost of those modifications.

Jeremy Quin: To date no modifications have been identified as necessary to enable the Apache AH-64E model to operate to UK airworthiness regulations.

Apache AH-64 Helicopters

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he has taken to ensure that support workshare for the Boeing AH-64 Apache was awarded domestically.

Jeremy Quin: An initial two-year package of support is being provided as part of the Foreign Military Sales agreement with the US Government for the Apache AH-64E. Beyond that, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has stated its intent, wherever possible, to contract with the Boeing Company's UK entity, Boeing Defence UK (BDUK), for the Apache AH-64E long term training and support service (LTTSS) contract. The MOD is currently negotiating with BDUK over delivery of the LTTSS. This is expected to generate further sub-contracting opportunities for UK-based companies in due course. Following an initial transitional phase, it is planned that all aircrew and maintainer training will be undertaken in the UK. The aircraft depth maintenance facility is also planned to be established in the UK, including engine overhaul, which would represent an increase in UK workshare over the current in-service Apache engine maintenance arrangements where engine overhaul activity is divided between the UK and France.

Bahrain: Military Bases

Chris Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many armed forces personnel are stationed at Muharraq air base in Bahrain; which units those personnel belong to; what the cost of those personnel was in financial year 2019-20; and what roles those personnel are fulfilling.

James Heappey: The UK has eight Armed Forces personnel based between Muharraq Air Base and Headquarters Maritime Component Commander in Bahrain. These personnel form the UK Joint Support Detachment and belong to the UK Maritime Component Commander and the UK Air Component Commander. They fulfil a variety of roles to facilitate the entry and departure of UK personnel and stores from Bahrain under Operation KIPION, including postal services and logistics movements. The cost of supporting these personnel in Bahrain was approximately £270,000 during financial year 2019-20.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft: Weapons

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether Pathway IV will be operative on the UK's F-35 fleet.

Jeremy Quin: I am taking the right hon. Member's question to be asking about Paveway IV. The Paveway IV has always been a core weapon for the UK Lightning Force. It was declared Operational on Lightning at Initial Operating Capability in December 2018.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what savings measures his Department has undertaken to reduce the complete costs of the UK's F-35b fleet from £9.134 billion to £8.538 billion.

Jeremy Quin: The reduction in cost has resulted from measures taken throughout the programme to reduce aircraft procurement and flying costs. The UK continues to work closely with our partner nations, as part of the US-led F-35 global programme, to identify efficiencies and drive down programme costs.

Warships: Sales

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the contribution to the public purse was from the sale of HMS Quorn to Lithuania.

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what upgrades will be carried to HMS Quorn prior to its sale to Lithuania.

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what tendering process is planned by his Department for the upgrade of HMS Quorn.

Jeremy Quin: £1 million will be received by the Department from the Lithuanian Government for the sale of HMS QUORN. There will also be additional income generated from the sale of the sonar system. No upgrades will be undertaken prior to the sale. Defence Equipment and Support is conducting a competition for a refurbishment package on behalf of the Lithuanian Government. This competition is compliant with the Defence and Security Public Contracts Regulations.

Warships

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what support is being offered by UK warships to vessels operated by UK-registered companies to protect them from harassment by state actors.

James Heappey: The Ministry of Defence works closely with the Department for Transport to assess the threat level to UK and Red Ensign Group (REG) flagged shipping around the world. When a clear and immediate threat is identified to UK/REG flagged shipping then Royal Navy warships have been tasked to support: as shown by the Royal Navy accompaniment of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz in 2019. We encourage all flag states to respect the safety and security of all vessels in accordance with international law and for any disputes to be settled peacefully through existing legal mechanisms, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Armed Forces: Sexual Offences

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many reported incidents of (a) sexual harassment, (b) sexual assault and (c) rape there were by (i) gender and (ii) service in each year from 2015 to 2018; and if he will make a statement.

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will provide details of the (a) training and (b) other steps taken to increase reporting of (i) sexual harassment, (ii) sexual assault and (iii) rape by (A) gender and (B) service in the armed forces each year from 2015 to 2018; and if he will make a statement.

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what training his Department provided to (a) junior NCO’s and (b) junior officers to increase awareness of (a) sexual harassment, (b) sexual assault and c) rape by (A) gender and (B) service in each year since 2015; and if he will make a statement.

Johnny Mercer: The Ministry of Defence is absolutely clear there is no place for sexual offending in the Armed Forces. The Armed Forces are committed to addressing the issues of sexual harassment and sexual assault through a range of actions, including awareness campaigns and training presentations around sexual consent. We recognise the great courage it takes to come forward and report a sexual offence. Personnel who come forward can have full confidence that all allegations are thoroughly investigated; Commanding Officers must always refer any allegation of rape and sexual assault, or any other offence which may have a sexual element, to the Service Police. Anyone found to fall short of the Services’ high standards or to have committed an offence is dealt with appropriately, up to and including imprisonment and dismissal from service. Detailed statistics about sexual offending in the Service Justice System are published annually as part of our commitment to openness and transparency: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sexual-offences-in-the-service-justice-system

Defence: Economic Situation

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to bring programmes forward to support UK prosperity, jobs, and export opportunities.

Jeremy Quin: The Ministry of Defence has rigorous processes to assure, test and develop the capabilities and force structure that we have to make sure that they are robust against current and future threats. An important part of this is consideration is the UK industries that provide these capabilities. We are in constant conversation with industry to work together through this crisis and ensure that we manage delivery of our programmes in a way that supports our economic prosperity andthe continued needs of our Armed Forces.

Armed Forces

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 14 January 2014 to Question 182081, if he will list the current appointments of all British forces personnel to foreign armed forces and governments by rank and task.

James Heappey: I am withholding the information as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

Armed Forces

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department's definition is of UK personnel in each of the categories of (a) loan service personnel, (b) exchange officers, (c) liaison officers, (d) embeds and (e) secondees.

James Heappey: The definitions of these categories are as follows: Loan Service. Loan Service is defined as being the loan of Service personnel from the United Kingdom Armed Forces to assist a Commonwealth or foreign country. Loan Service personnel are subject to United Kingdom Service regulations; they are administered and receive pay and allowances in the usual way and are consequently subject to United Kingdom income tax. They are not subject to Host Nation taxation. Exchange Officers. Exchange officers are deployed into key posts globally. They may be deployed for Service-specific or joint operational reasons. They work for the HN, usually in exchange for a HN officer working in the UK. They create Defence Engagement effect by projecting a positive image of the UK, generating understanding of host nation tactics, procedures and capability, and symbolising the close cooperative relationship between services. Exchange officers provide an opportunity to assist UK efforts in other ways, such as by gaining insight into another nation's ways of thinking or working practices. Liaison Officers. Defence deploys a wide range of liaison officers to foreign militaries and sometimes elsewhere within a foreign partner's security architecture. Liaison officers are specifically intended to facilitate information sharing and provide a means to deliver persistent influence on the HN. In general, liaison officers remain under the command and control of the sending nation. Embedded Officers. The UK also has a significant number of embedded officers, mainly serving in US headquarters. Embedded officers create tailored DE effect, depending on their role and the agreement of the HN. In general, embedded officers come under the command and control of the HN.[1] Secondee Service. Secondee Service places UK military personnel within a company, such as BAE Systems or NETMA. While such service is considered a tour of duty it is governed by bespoke TACOS for the duration of the secondment, agreed between the Company, the individual and the RAF. Seconded personnel temporarily leave the Air Force, are paid by the company but retain their right to promotion etc. Seconded service supports DE access and influence in a similar way to loan service. [1] Embedded UK personnel operate as if they were the host nation's personnel under that nations' chain of command, but they remain subject to UK domestic, international and host nation law'.

Department for Work and Pensions

Department for Work and Pensions: Coroners

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many prevention of future deaths reports have been submitted by coroners to her Department in each of the last 10 years.

Justin Tomlinson: The Department established the coroner focal point in March 2016, aiming to provide a single point of entry for coroner communications. Before this point there were multiple routes by which coroners might contact the department, including locally. To try to collate information over the past 10 years would require going out to all business areas for historical information which may not be comprehensive and would incur disproportionate cost. The figures available are below in table 1.  Table 1YearNumber of Prevention of Future Death reports received201912018020170201612015120141 N.B. This does not include PFDs for the Health and Safety Executive.

Universal Credit: Coronavirus

Sir David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure applications for universal credit are dealt with in a timely manner throughout the covid-19 outbreak.

Will Quince: In response to unprecedented numbers of new claims, my Department has ensured that getting benefit payments made on time is its priority. In this period we expect over 90% of UC new claimants to be paid in full and on time. The Department has mobilised robust business continuity plans to ensure we can do just that. We have redeployed a significant number of DWP staff—about 8,000 so far—and staff from other Government Departments, about 500 so far, to process these claims, as well support from the private sector. We have also introduced new processes to ease pressure on waiting times for identity verification over the phone and other processes. People making new claims for Universal Credit no longer need to call the Department as part of the process. Once they have completed their online application we will call them if we need to check any of the information they have given us. The Universal Credit system is facing extraordinary pressures exerted by the unprecedented volume of new claims, but it is standing up to this challenge. The agility of the system means that capacity can be built rapidly and this has enabled it to cope in the face of demand which would have overwhelmed the complex legacy benefit regime.

Social Security Benefits: Coronavirus

Stephen Farry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has plans to increase the rates of (a) income support and (b) job seekers allowance for (i) all claimants and (ii) claimants with chronic health conditions during the covid-19 outbreak.

Mims Davies: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Errol Brown

Vicky Foxcroft: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Serious Case Panel review into the death of Errol Brown has been concluded; and whether her Department plans to publish the conclusions of that review.

Justin Tomlinson: We are absolutely committed to improving our services, especially to the most vulnerable, which is why we have set up the Serious Case Panel. The panel does not consider individual cases and instead takes themes and systemic issues that come out of various case reviews to make recommendations for improvements.

Welfare Tax Credits

Neil Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many tax credit claims have been closed after an application for universal credit for which the claimant was ineligible in the latest period for which figures are available.

Will Quince: The information requested is not available.

Health and Safety Executive

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what additional (a) staffing and (b) funding has been allocated to the Health and Safety Executive to increase capacity for the inspection of premises to ensure safe working during the covid-19 outbreak.

Mims Davies: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Universal Credit: Knowsley

Sir George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people are claiming universal credit; and what the unemployment rate is in Knowsley constituency as of 29 April 2020.

Will Quince: The information requested on Universal Credit is not readily available at constituency level and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Statistics on employment and unemployment at Parliamentary Constituency level are estimated by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) using the Annual Population Survey (APS). The latest available data on unemployment in Knowsley constituency covers the period January 2019-December 2019, when the unemployment rate was estimated at 2.2%. However, the ONS consider this estimate highly uncertain as it is based on a very small sample. A less uncertain estimate exists for Knowlsey Local Authority District which is 2.9% (with the true level between 1.5% and 4.3%). The first dataset containing information on the requested period for April 2020 will be published by the ONS in autumn 2020.

Health and Safety Executive: Disease Control

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the resources available to the Health and Safety Executive to ensure that social distancing measures in work places are complied with during the covid-19 outbreak.

Mims Davies: The Secretary of State and I have had regular meetings with senior officials from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and receive weekly written updates on the work HSE is doing to support the Government during the COVID-19 outbreak. HSE is working within its current budget adopting a flexible regulatory approach to adjust to the new challenges that COVID-19 presents. This includes: maintaining its wide ranging regulatory functions, in particular continuing to investigate work related fatalities and the most serious major injuries, dealing with reported concerns and regulating major hazard industries. Undertaking regulatory activities that do not require site visits such as approvals and permissioning work. Whilst some of HSE’s regulatory intervention work can be done remotely, where it is necessary to provide public assurance that hazards are being effectively managed and to secure compliance with the law, site visits are being made; working with Public Health England (PHE), other Government departments and Devolved Administrations to ensure the country is geared up to treat people in Great Britain diagnosed with the COVID-19. HSE continues to offer information and advice on workplace and workforce issues to support the government’s response, including technical advice on personal protection equipment to ensure that healthcare workers and others are adequately protected; working closely with stakeholder groups including trade unions to develop practical guidance to support businesses to continue to operate and, where currently closed, to return to operation whilst ensuring the safety of workers; and where it comes to HSE’s attention that employers are found not to be complying with PHE’s guidelines taking appropriate action, ranging from specific advice through to serving enforcement notices, so as to ensure that practicable measures are implemented to protect workers and others.

Health and Safety Executive: Enforcement Notices

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many enforcement notices have been issued by the Health and Safety Executive during the covid-19 outbreak.

Mims Davies: There have been 136 enforcement notices issued between 23 March 2020 and 29 April 2020. This data was extracted from an operational database on 30 April 2020 and is subject to change as the administrative process of recording the information in the database can take up to 10 days.

Health and Safety Executive

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans the Government has for the future role of the Health and Safety Executive.

Mims Davies: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Industrial Health and Safety

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the role of trade unions in encouraging health and safety practices in the workplace.

Mims Davies: The health and safety system in Great Britain depends on collaboration between trade unions, business and government to maintain its global reputation as a leader and standard setter in the field. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) framework ensures there is a tripartite Board composition of local authority, employee and employer representatives. This encourages an open and constructive approach to strategic decision making and is replicated throughout key industry groups. HSE places great importance on worker involvement and consultation as it is a key factor in improving health and safety in the workplace. Trade union workplace health and safety representatives operating in partnership with management are an important part of realizing health and safety benefits.

Health and Safety Executive: Coronavirus

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many cases related to covid-19 have been reported to the Health and Safety Executive; and how many of those cases have led to enforcement action.

Mims Davies: Between 9 March 2020 and 4 May 2020, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has received reports of 50 dangerous occurrences, 1859 cases of occupational disease and 56 deaths to workers resulting from suspected COVID-19, under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013. HSE is processing these reports and progressing investigations as appropriate. No investigation has yet reached the stage of identifying the need for enforcement action. HSE has received 6780 calls and on-line enquiries between 9 March 2020 and 4 May 2020 on covid-19 matters, including some specifically raising concerns about a workplace. HSE handles these concerns through a triaging process with the most serious cases being dealt with by an inspector. In 280 cases an inspector provided advice and checked the employer had acted on the advice. In 25 cases HSE has written formally to the business requiring improvements.

Health and Safety Executive: Coronavirus

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Health and Safety Executive has ordered any businesses to close in response to covid-19-related concerns; and if she will make a statement.

Mims Davies: The Health and Safety Executive has not ordered any businesses to close in response to covid-19 concerns.

Health and Safety Executive: Coronavirus

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Health and Safety Executive has taken to promote online and telephone reporting of covid-19-related concerns.

Mims Davies: I refer the Rt. Hon. member to my recent answer to question 37708.

Universal Credit: Self-employed

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Welfare Delivery at the Work and Pensions Select Committee on 23 April 2020, what steps she has taken to ensure that universal credit claimants that are self-employed are aware that capital set aside for their self-assessment tax bill will not affect their claim.

Mims Davies: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Unemployment: Training

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to enable unemployed people to access training to work as (a) customs agents, (b) seasonal agricultural workers, and (c) other shortage occupations; and if she will make a statement.

Mims Davies: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Means-tested Benefits: Coronavirus

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the appropriateness of the savings thresholds for means tested benefits during the covid-19 outbreak; and if she will make a statement.

Will Quince: A key principle is that Universal Credit (UC) should only go to people who do not have assets available to meet their basic needs. While it is important to protect the incentive to save for claimants on low earnings, people with substantial capital must take responsibility for their own support. This is to ensure that we can maintain our focus on getting money to citizens who need it and safeguarding the most vulnerable. If capital exceeds £16,000 there will be no entitlement to UC, unless the capital can be disregarded, for example personal injury compensation payments. Capital above £6,000 will reduce the amount of UC paid by £4.35 per month for every £250 of capital or part thereof. If someone has money in their account that is to be used for business purposes, for example for paying tax, it will not be counted towards their capital, but they may be asked to prove that the money is for business purposes. People should make clear in their application the savings that are business assets, and note it in their online journal.

Department for Work and Pensions: Remote Working

Mr David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department has taken to enable its officials to work from home during the covid-19 outbreak.

Mims Davies: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Universal Credit

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many new universal credit applicants there have been in each month since March 2020; and how many of those new applicants have successfully applied for a universal credit advance loan payment.

Will Quince: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Universal Credit

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in receipt of universal credit before March 2020 have not received the 1.7 per cent increase in that benefit on 6 April; and how many new claimants have received that increase.

Will Quince: The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

*No heading*

John McNally: What steps she is taking to ensure that her Department’s response to the covid-19 outbreak does not disadvantage women.

Mims Davies: The government is committed to ensuring that the services and benefits it offers works for everyone including women, as we tackle the Covid 19 crisis. This Government has invested over £6.5bn in strengthening the safety net overall, including making changes to the benefits system to ensure claimants receive the support they need. Notably Universal Credit claimants, and people receiving Working Tax Credits, are receiving an increase in the standard rate of up to £1040 per year for the next 12 months, additional to the uprating announced in November 2019.Local Housing Allowance rates for Universal Credit and Housing Benefit claimants have also been increased.

*No heading*

Allan Dorans: What recent discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential merits of introducing a universal basic income in response to the covid-19 outbreak.

Will Quince: I have not had these conversations with the Chancellor because a Universal Basic Income is not targeted at the poorest in society and is not an appropriate way for the Government to distribute money.This Government set out a substantial package of targeted measures to provide support to people affected by coronavirus, which can be delivered quickly and effectively through existing systems.

*No heading*

Grahame Morris: What recent discussions she has had with the Health and Safety Executive on ensuring that workplaces are safe to return to after the covid-19 lockdown has ended.

Mims Davies: HSE are working across Government and both the Secretary of State and I have had regular meetings with senior officials from the HSE to assess the ways in which the Department can support the important work HSE is doing in response to the Covid-19 outbreak.

*No heading*

Naz Shah: What recent assessment her Department has made of trends in the level of child poverty.

Will Quince: The recent welfare changes ensure people receive the support they need in these difficult times. But we know that a child in a household where every adult is working is about 4 times less likely to be in poverty than a child in a household where nobody works. That is why we are focusing on how to support people back into work, following the outbreak.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Pets: Coronavirus

Stuart Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to provide support to key workers who have pets at home while they are at work during the covid-19 outbreak.

Victoria Prentis: The Government's message to the public is clear: stay alert, control the virus and save lives. Dog walking businesses, home boarders and dog day care providers play a key role in ensuring the welfare of the nation's pets and can operate within the strict advice on social distancing and hygiene.The Canine and Feline Sector Group, which advises both the Animal Health and Welfare Board for England and Defra Ministers, has issued its own guidance to pet businesses on how they can continue to operate under current restrictions and in line with guidance around social distancing and hygiene: www.cfsg.org.uk/coronavirus/SiteAssets/SitePages/Home/CFSG%20Animal%20Business%20Guidance%2007.04.20.pdf.If key workers need further help in meeting the welfare needs of their animals, they are advised to contact their relevant local authority which will be coordinating volunteers to help during this difficult time.

Tree Planting: Urban Areas

Kate Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to continue (a) maintenance and (b) funding for trees planted under the Urban Tree Challenge Fund.

Rebecca Pow: The Government recognises the value of our urban trees and is committed to planting and protecting them. This is reflected in the significant increase in investment on trees announced in the budget. Urban trees play a crucial role in providing health and wellbeing benefits for communities, flood risk alleviation and carbon sequestration. The Urban Tree Challenge Fund (UTCF) was launched in May 2019 and aims to plant 130,000 trees across England’s towns and cities by 2021. The first round of the UTCF closed in August 2019 and is funding the planting of over 22,000 large trees and 28,000 small trees in urban areas. The second round of the UTCF opened in March, for successful applicants to plant this winter. As well as providing funding for the planting of large and small trees in urban and peri-urban areas, the UTCF provides three years of establishment payments following planting. We will shortly be consulting the public on an English Tree Strategy. This will set out the Government’s vision for the sector for the years to come and will be a crucial mechanism for delivering the planting of trees in both rural and urban areas.

Offshore Fixed Structures: North Sea

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has held with the Secretary of State for  Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on the decision to leave in-situ the (a) steel jackets and (b) concrete bases underneath decommissioned Brent oilfield platforms (i) Bravo, (ii) Charlie and (iii) Delta east of Shetland.

Rebecca Pow: The Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (OPRED), part of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), consults with a number of other Government departments and agencies including Defra regarding proposals for decommissioning offshore platforms. Defra officials have had extensive discussions with OPRED and have examined the decommissioning proposals for the platforms in the Brent field, and were content that the decommissioning proposals offered the best, most practicable option for protecting the marine environment. In these discussions with OPRED, Defra officials have been assured that any approval to leave in situ the footings of the Brent Alpha steel jacket and the concrete gravity based installations for Brent Bravo, Brent Charlie and Brent Delta will be consistent with our international obligations.

Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his policy is on adherence by his Department to the (a) London Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter 1972 and (b) London Protocol to that convention adopted in 1996.

Rebecca Pow: The London Convention was adopted in 1972 and banned the dumping of specified wastes at sea, marking a significant step towards protecting the marine environment from human activities. The London Protocol, adopted in 1996, built on and modernised the principles developed under the London Convention. The London Protocol is a full treaty that supersedes the London Convention 1972. The UK is a Contracting Party to the London Protocol and has ratified the treaty. The UK complies with its international obligations under the London Protocol and it is implemented in the UK via the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010.

Agriculture: Coronavirus

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to ensure the maintenance of labour (a) supply and (b) standards in the farming industry during covid-19 outbreak.

Victoria Prentis: (Part A) The ongoing impacts of the Coronavirus outbreak have meant that there will be a shortfall in the numbers of workers who usually travel to the UK from Europe to work during the harvest season, with the demand for workers peaking from late May through the summer. Farming leaders have already kick-started a recruitment drive for work on farms, with thousands of British people already expressing an interest in picking up seasonal agricultural work over the coming weeks and months. With many British workers furloughed from their jobs, and students having to put their summer plans on hold, the Government is supporting industry efforts to help farmers bring in this year’s harvest, working to build on these numbers. The majority of roles for the early part of the harvest season have already been filled. We are closely monitoring the situation and we will shortly be launching a public- facing campaign to highlight the roles available from late May onwards and to encourage people to apply. The Government has confirmed that those who have been furloughed from their jobs due to coronavirus, and who are contractually allowed to work for another employer, can take on this seasonal work. A new government-industry digital hub for seasonal work information and job opportunities has been launched to provide guidance on getting into farm work and links to the available jobs and recruiters. The website can be found at pickforbritain.org.uk and will be updated regularly over the coming weeks to help match jobs to workers as the demand grows. (Part B) The UK is proud of its world-leading standards of food safety, environmental protection and animal health and welfare. We will not compromise our standards nor put the UK’s biosecurity at risk whatever the circumstances.

Microplastics: Pollution Control

Alberto Costa: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to tackle microfibre plastic pollution originating from clothes washing.

Rebecca Pow: There has been substantive research reporting the presence and impacts of microplastics and microfibres in the marine environment. However, little is known about their sources, release and impact on freshwaters and their transport to the marine environment. Defra has therefore commissioned evidence reviews based on the following questions: Are the current sampling and analytical methods used to provide data on the presence of microplastics in freshwater matrices, as well as other environmental materials, scientifically robust and appropriate?What are the sources of microplastics reported to have been found in freshwater environments?What is/are the impact(s) of microplastics on freshwater biota? Defra is also working with the Environment Agency and the UK water industry to establish methods to detect, characterise and quantify microplastics entering wastewater treatment works, to evaluate the efficiency of treatment processes for their removal from domestic wastewaters and to assess their fate and biological effects in receiving rivers. In addition, Defra has commissioned the University of Plymouth to carry out research into textiles and tyres which are estimated to be significant sources of microplastics in the marine environment, and the Drinking Water Inspectorate has commissioned research on removal of microplastics by drinking water treatment processes. The outcomes from these research projects will be used in the development of policy options to help mitigate the impact of microplastics in the aquatic environment.

Public Footpaths: Coastal Areas

Sir Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will delegate authority to Natural England to agree the whole route for the South Coast coastal path.

Rebecca Pow: Defra’s and Natural England’s roles in delivering the England Coast Path, including those stretches on the south coast, are well defined and set out in the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 and subsequent regulations. The two organisations work closely together to ensure that the path is delivered in a way that provides fair balance between the interests of users and those of landowners and occupiers along the route. There are no plans to change these ways of working.

Agriculture: New Forest

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent representations he has received from the (a) Official Verderer, (b) Commoners Defence Association and (c) National Park Authority of the New Forest, on (i) damage to the landscape caused by excessive numbers of depastured cattle and (ii) the establishing of the reference period for delinking Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payments from the requirement to make an annual BPS application in order to continue to receive such payments; what assessment he has made of the accuracy of reports that the increase in cattle numbers on the Forest in recent years is unsustainable; and if he will make it his policy to make a decision on that matter as soon as possible and treat the New Forest as a special case.

Victoria Prentis: We have received three pieces of correspondence from the New Forest Commoners Defence Association on these subjects.The New Forest National Park Authority are aware of the challenges and have been working with the Forestry Commission, Verderers and the Commoners Defence Association to help find the best solution to support commoning and deliver the best outcomes for land management.Natural England recently recommended that the Environmental Stewardship Higher Level agreement with the Verderers should be extended by one year as the agreement was delivering its objectives and the Sites of Special Scientific Interest within the forest were being managed in a way that improved their condition. We are not aware of damage to landscape due to increased numbers of de-pastured cattle.We intend to consult further with the industry before setting the detailed rules for delinked payments. This will help us get the approach right for farmers and allow us to take account of any particular concerns, such as the impact on commoners.The reference period to be used for delinked payments is one of the areas that we intend to consult on. For example, we could make payments based on the Basic Payment Scheme payments the farmer was entitled to receive in a particular scheme year or average over a number of years. We understand the importance of carefully deciding on this reference period and of communicating it to the industry in good time.

Food: Coronavirus

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish the organisations and companies that received contracts from the Government to deliver food supplies to people considered clinically vulnerable during the covid-19 outbreak; and on what date each contract was entered into.

Victoria Prentis: Bidfood and Brakes both received Defra contracts to deliver food parcels to the clinically vulnerable. Contracts commenced on 27 March 2020 under letters of intent and formal contracts were signed on 24 April 2020.

Food: Labelling

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to promote the purchase of food with the Red Tractor logo (a) in supermarkets and (b) elsewhere in the UK.

Victoria Prentis: Red Tractor is an independent and voluntary UK-based whole-chain food assurance scheme overseen by Assured Food Standards. Such schemes can help to build consumer confidence in producers who can comply with specific health, welfare or environmental standards. Red Tractor regularly promotes its work and achievements through TV and radio campaigns, as well as a strong presence on social media.While we encourage membership of food assurance schemes among farmers, the Government is not, however, responsible for Red Tractor or any other independent and private scheme.As a nation, we should be proud of our high quality produce, high standards of food safety, traceability, animal welfare and sustainability. Our farmers and growers are doing a fantastic job of feeding the nation during this challenging time.In addition, we are working closely with the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), Dairy UK and Seafish as they develop consumer-facing marketing campaigns for the dairy, meat and seafood sectors. Specifically, AHDB and Dairy UK are launching a £1 million campaign, supported financially by Defra and devolved government partners, to encourage consumers to reconnect with milk. Defra and Seafish are working closely on the Sea For Yourself campaign, an initiative to promote seafood species caught in UK waters. The campaign directs consumers to tips and recipes on how to cook these species, as well as to information on online sales to help them find out where to buy local fish and shellfish.Separately, Quality Meat Scotland, AHDB and Meat Promotion Wales have launched a £1.2 million ‘Make It beef’ campaign, aimed at showing consumers how they can recreate easy to cook restaurant-style meals with high-quality cuts, such as steak. The campaign will use the Red Tractor logo in England.We will always champion our farmers and producers, supporting them to grow more of our great British food and to provide a reliable and sustainable food supply to the British public.

Dogs: Animal Breeding

Alex Norris: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 4 May 2020 to Question 40742, on Dogs: Animal Breeding, whether a puppy bred by a person that is licensed to sell a puppy in England can be sold in the UK if it was bred by that person outside the UK.

Victoria Prentis: A person who is licensed in England as a seller of pet animals may sell a puppy in England as long as they can satisfy the local authority that they bred the puppy concerned. The ban on commercial third party sales in England is about ensuring the person selling the puppy has actually bred the pet animal. The law on the breeding and selling of dogs is a devolved matter and therefore differs in the rest of the United Kingdom.

Forestry England: Coronavirus

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much emergency funding he plans to allocate to Forestry England to enable that organisation to continue (a) operating and (b) paying staff (i) during and (ii) after lockdown.

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the level of funding required from the public purse to enable Forestry England to maintain its activities (a) during and (b) after the covid-19 lockdown.

Mary Glindon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that Forestry England is able to maintain the (a) wages of its staff, and (b) number of jobs in its organisation during the covid-19 pandemic.

Rebecca Pow: Defra and the Forestry Commission are discussing options to manage financial impacts arising from COVID-19. With reduced income from timber and visitors, Forestry England (FE) has made use of the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to reduce costs, protect jobs and retain staff. FE continues to manage and care for the nation’s forests, adapting working practices in line with public health guidelines.

Food: Coronavirus

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many people in the covid-19 shielding group receive a Government food parcel every week.

Victoria Prentis: Currently, over 290,000 food boxes are being delivered to the COVID-19 shielding group each week in England.

Water: Standards

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Environment Agency's water quality monitoring programme, what number of (a) samples have been taken and (b) sampling points there have been in (i) each year since 2010 and (ii) each month since January 2020.

Rebecca Pow: The table below shows the number of water quality samples taken by the Environment Agency, and the number of sample points, in each year since 2010: YearNo. samples takenNo. sample points201013160218079201113725117286201215539416790201315973718498201413545217962201512175516088201611195115428201794879153352018867371308620199758714439 The table below shows the number of water quality samples taken, and the number of sample points, in each month since January 2020: MonthNo. samples takenNo. sample pointsJanuary94758175February77406612March 71966189 Data for April is not yet available.

Water: Standards

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans his Department has to resume sampling of rivers, groundwater and bathing waters to measure water quality.

Rebecca Pow: In line with Government guidelines to reduce the spread of Coronavirus, the Environment Agency (EA) has paused all monitoring activities that are not essential to prevent serious harm to people or the environment, or to support responses to major incidents. The EA will keep this under review and will restart non-critical activities (including routine environmental monitoring) in due course, in line with Government guidance on lockdown measures.

Water: Standards

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many samples of England's designated bathing waters have been taken to monitor water quality (a) since 2010 and (b) in each month of 2020.

Rebecca Pow: From 2010 to the end of 2019, the Environment Agency (EA) collected and analysed 78,250 samples to monitor water quality at England’s designated bathing waters. The EA has not taken any samples yet in 2020 because the sampling season starts on 1 May and has been disrupted due to the Coronavirus emergency.

Water: EU Law

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the timetable is for the publication of the Water Framework Directive water body classifications.

Rebecca Pow: During the Coronavirus emergency, the Environment Agency (EA) has prioritised activities critical to preventing serious harm to people or the environment, or to supporting responses to major incidents. The EA does not, therefore, currently have a release date for the Water Framework Directive water body classifications. The EA is considering this as part of its planning for the ‘restart’ phase of the Coronavirus emergency and will publish the classifications as soon as it reasonably can.

Water: Standards

Stephanie Peacock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how much funding has been allocated to water quality monitoring since 2010.

Rebecca Pow: £130.5 million was allocated to the Environment Agency (EA) for water quality monitoring from 2015 to the end of 2019. This includes planning, sampling, analysing, recording and interpreting the data. Prior to 2015, funding allocations within the EA were not recorded to the same level of detail and so accurate and consistent figures cannot be provided for the period 2010 to 2015.

Home Office

Immigrants: Finance

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of (a) suspending no recourse to public funds conditions and (b) providing a specific support package for people with no recourse to public funds during the covid-19 pandemic.

Chris Philp: The Home Office is working closely with other government departments to support people, including migrants with no recourse to public funds, through this crisis. We are taking a compassionate and pragmatic approach to an unprecedented situation. Migrants with leave under the Family and Human Rights routes can apply to have the NRPF restriction lifted by making a ‘change of conditions’ application if there has been a change in their financial circumstances. The Home Office has recently digitised the application form to make sure it is accessible for those who need to remain at home, and I can assure you that the applications are being dealt with swiftly and compassionately. Many of the wide-ranging Covid-19 measures the government has put in place are not public funds and therefore are available to migrants with no recourse to public funds (NRPF). We therefore do not believe it is necessary to suspend the NRPF condition. The Coronavirus job retention scheme, self-employment income support and statutory sick pay are not classed as public funds for immigration purposes. Contribution-based benefits are also not classed as public funds for immigration purposes. Additionally, measures we have brought forward such as rent and mortgage protections are not considered public funds and can be accessed by migrants with leave to remain. Local authorities may also provide basic safety net support if it is established that there is a genuine care need that does not arise solely from destitution, for example, where there are community care needs, migrants with serious health problems or family cases where the wellbeing of a child is in question. In addition, the Government has made in excess of £3.2bn of funding available to local authorities in England and additional funding under the Barnett formula to the devolved administrations to enable them to respond to Covid-19 pressures across all the services they deliver, including services helping the most vulnerable. More information on the support available to migrants, including those with NRPF, can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-get-support-if-youre-a-migrant-living-in-the-uk.

Entry Clearances: Coronavirus

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of extending the 30 day entry clearance vignette while travel restrictions are in place as a result of the covid-19 pandemic.

Kevin Foster: The Home Office has put in place a range of measures to support those affected by the covid-19 outbreak.It has been agreed that if an individual’s 30-day visa to travel to the UK for work, study or to join family has expired, or is about to expire, a replacement visa with revised validity dates valid for up to 90 days may be requested free of charge until the end of this year (2020). Affected customers will need to contact the UKVI Coronavirus Immigration Help Centre. Full details of the Help Centre and how to make a request can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-uk-visa-applicants-and-temporary-uk-residents.These are unprecedented times and we may make further adjustments to requirements where necessary and appropriate, to ensure people are not unduly affected by circumstances beyond their control.

Muslim Brotherhood

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of a potential increase in the activity of the Muslim Brotherhood in the UK as a result of the economic downturn during the covid-19 outbreak.

Victoria Atkins: The Government keeps under review the activities of those associated with the Muslim Brotherhood in the UK in accordance with the five commitments included in the former Prime Minister’s statement to Parliament.The Government’s five commitments from the review are to:refuse visas to members and associates of the Muslim Brotherhood, in line with our existing policy guidelines and our approach to all forms of extremism;seek to ensure charities that have links to the Muslim Brotherhood are not misused to support or finance the Muslim Brotherhood instead of their lawful charitable purpose;strengthen liaison arrangements with international partners to ensure that allegations of illicit funding or other misuse of charities are robustly investigated and appropriate action taken;enforce the EU asset freeze on Hamas; andkeep under review whether the views and activities of the Muslim Brotherhood meet the legal test for proscription.We have made no assessment on any increase in activity resulting from the economic situation.

Asylum: Applications

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to reduce delays to substantive interviews for asylum seekers during the covid-19 outbreak; and whether (a) video conferencing and (b) other alternative processes are being assessed as a means of conducting substantive interviews for people seeking asylum in the UK.

Chris Philp: The Home Office takes the wellbeing of asylum seekers extremely seriously and has already put in place a range of measures to support asylum seekers affected by the covid-19 outbreak. In line with the Home Office’s commitment to protect the health and wellbeing of its staff and customers as a top priority, Asylum Operations made the decision to cease face to face substantive asylum interviews with effect from Thursday 19th March 2020. Asylum Operations have secured a mobile digital and video interviewing solution to support remote interviewing and are working with delivery partners, to enable the use of this technology. We remain committed to restarting substantive asylum interviews as soon we can establish a process that safely allows the participants - applicants, representatives, interpreters and interviewers - to do so safely.Asylum Operations are continuing to make and serve decisions on cases where there is enough information to do so. We are continuing to review these on a case by case basis, ensuring those with significant safeguarding concerns or vulnerabilities are only served if appropriate to do so. These are unprecedented times and we are adjusting processes and procedures where necessary and appropriate to adapt to these changes.

Asylum: Applications

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of re-introducing a target of six months for the completion of asylum applications to the UK.

Chris Philp: A new service standard for asylum applications is currently being developed, which is intended to bring balance back to the asylum system. Until October 2018, there was a published service standard in place to decide 98% of straight-forward cases within six months from date of claim. Whilst the operation consistently achieved this for three years, the number of non-straight forward cases awaiting a decision grew rapidly and it became clear that the former service standard no longer best served those that used our services. For these reasons, former Ministers agreed that we should move away from the service standard to reprioritise cases in the short term, whilst we come to longer term arrangement for service standards that meet the needs of all parties. As a result, we moved away from the 6-month service standard to concentrate on older claims, cases with acute vulnerability and those in receipt of the greatest level of support, including Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking Children (UASC). Additionally, we are prioritising cases where an individual has already received a decision, but a reconsideration is required. In line with UKVI’s ambition to promote a greater understanding and transparency of the asylum system and to develop a service standard that is meaningful and commands confidence, we have engaged with stakeholders as part of our plans and are considering this valuable insight as we work to shape the new service standard. We are committed to ensuring that asylum claims are considered without unnecessary delay, to ensure that individuals who need protection are granted asylum as soon as possible and can start to integrate and rebuild their lives, including those granted at appeal.

Trials: Video Conferencing

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has had discussions with the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner on the evaluation of the Home Office funded video enabled justice programme; and if she will make a statement.

Kit Malthouse: The Video Enabled Justice programme was funded through Police Transformation Fund as part of the Police Funding Settlement. It is a police-led pilot to explore the use of live-link video in first appearance remand hearings and for police witnesses.The independent evaluation of the pilot will be published by the Office of the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner (OSPCC), imminently.My officials have read the evaluation ahead of publication in line with the grant conditions. We have encouraged OSPCC to share the evaluation with Criminal Justice and policing partners to inform decisions on the roll-out of a Criminal Justice System wide solution and too consider whether there are lessons that can help ensure an effective criminal justice system can be maintained during the current Covid-19 crisis.

Animal Experiments

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure that (a) investigations and inspections conducted by the Animals in Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) Inspectorate continue uninterrupted during the covid-19 crisis, (b) any staff shortages pertaining to requirements set out in the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 are reported so that the ASRU Inspectorate is able to assess the risk of non-compliance and (c) cases of non-compliance due to staff shortages are described and publicly reported.

Victoria Atkins: Establishments are responsible for the welfare of animals in their care. The Home Office has published guidance on Business Continuity Planning for Establishments, which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/guidance-on-the-operation-of-the-animals-scientific-procedures-act-1986#business-continuity-planning-guidance.The Animals in Science Regulation has currently suspended on-site inspection visits. Inspection activities to assess compliance are being continued remotely, for example by telephone and email. There may be occasions where on-site inspection visits need to be considered. Any such inspections will be planned on a case by case basis in accordance with the Government measures. Inspectors have specifically inspected establishments for preparedness for the care and protection of animals during the Coronavirus outbreak.Cases of non-compliance continue to be investigated. Identified cases will be reported in the relevant Annual Report. Previous Annual Reports can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/animals-in-science-regulation-unit-annual-reports

Domestic Abuse: Victim Support Schemes

Preet Kaur Gill: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what additional support she is allocating to services for survivors of domestic abuse during the covid-19 lockdown.

Victoria Atkins: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chancellor has announced a funding package of £750m to support charities including those providing domestic abuse services. The Home Office is also allocating an additional £2 million in funding announced by the Home Secretary to support technological capability such as specialist helplines and websites.We have also launched a new campaign to signpost victims to the support services available. The campaign, under the hashtag #YouAreNotAlone, aims to reassure those affected by domestic abuse that support services remain available during this difficult time.

Undocumented Migrants: English Channel

Sir Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish her assessment of the progress achieved in implementing the joint action plan by the UK and France on combating illegal migration involving small boats in the English Channel; and when the objective set out in paragraph 6 of the addendum of ensuring that by Spring 2020 successful migrant crossings have become an infrequent phenomenon will be achieved.

Chris Philp: Since the signature of the Joint Action Plan in January 2019, my department has successfully worked with the French Government to deliver on the commitments made, including (i) the purchase of equipment to assist detections by French law enforcement partners (ii) the delivery of a strategic communications campaign and (iii) increased intelligence sharing through the CCIC. Additionally, under the terms of the Addendum to the Action Plan, the UK has supported the deployment of French gendarme reservists along the French coast, whose efforts have been vital in preventing boats crossing the English Channel. However, as recognised under the Addendum, this threat continues to evolve, with the recent good weather and Covid-19 lockdown having an impact on migrant behaviour, resulting in a rise in the number of arrivals in the UK. My department is working with the French government to respond to this evolving threat as a matter of urgency to reduce the number of crossings.

Biometrics Commissioner and Surveillance Camera Commissioner: Public Appointments

Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she has taken to enable the appointments of the (a) Surveillance Camera Commissioner and (b) Commissioner for the Retention and Use of Biometric Material when the current post holders terms conclude.

Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with her officials on the recruitment process for the roles of the (a) Surveillance Camera Commissioner and (b) Commissioner for the Retention and Use of Biometric Material.

Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she discussed the forthcoming appointments of the (a) Surveillance Camera Commissioner and (b) Commissioner for the Retention and Use of Biometric Material with the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Kit Malthouse: The process to appoint a Surveillance Camera Commissioner and Commissioner for the Retention and Use of Biometric Material, will be made in accordance with the Cabinet Office Governance Code on Public Appointments (Governance Code), and is under consideration including consultation with the Commissioner for Public Appointments.https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/578498/governance_code_on_public_appointments_16_12_2016.pdfAs set out in the Governance Code, Ministers are consulted about all the possible recruitment options.

Immigration Controls: Coronavirus

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she registered a written or other objection to the decision by Public Health England to rescind the advice entitled COVID-19: specified countries and areas with implications for returning travellers or visitors arriving in the UK in the last 14 days, available on gov.uk until 13 March 2020.

Chris Philp: Our approach to tackling coronavirus has been driven by the latest scientific and medical advice provided by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) and Public Health England. All decisions relating to international travel to the UK or on arrival at ports/airports have been made by Ministers across Government.

Home Office: Remote Working

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many staff in her Department have formal arrangements to work from home during the covid-19 outbreak.

Victoria Atkins: In line with wider Government guidance on social distancing those Home Office employees whose work can be done from home have been asked to work from home during the Covid-19 outbreak.The number of employees currently doing so is not collated centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Biometrics Commissioner and Surveillance Camera Commissioner: Public Appointments

Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to ensure appointments to the roles of the (a) Surveillance Camera Commissioner and (b) Commissioner for the Retention and Use of Biometric Material are done so (a) fairly, openly and transparently and (b) within the other requirements set out by the Government’s Governance Code on Public Appointments.

Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has for the future of the roles of (a) Surveillance Camera Commissioner and (b) Commissioner for the Retention and Use of Biometric Material.

Mr David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessment of the implications for ongoing legal proceedings of a change in office holder for the Surveillance Camera Commissioner.

Kit Malthouse: The appointment of a Surveillance Camera Commissioner and Commissioner for the Retention and Use of Biometric Material is under consideration and will be made in accordance with the Cabinet Office Governance Code on Public Appointments (Governance Code), and take account of any possible implications for legal proceedings.We are committed to empowering the police to use technologies like biometrics within a strict legal framework and will update parliament on our plans shortly.

Migrant Workers: Visas

Colum Eastwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to waive the cost for visa renewal for all (a) NHS, (b) social care sector and (c) key sector workers who are working in response to the covid-19 outbreak; and to extend that same waiver to the families of those workers.

Kevin Foster: The Government has announced we will extend the visas for a range of healthcare professionals working for the NHS and independent health and care providers, where their current visa expires before 1 October.This offer also applies to their families. The 12-month extension is automatic and free of charge and those benefitting will not have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge.

Children: Protection

Peter Aldous: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance has been provided to the Police to ensure they are investigating the safeguarding concerns of children who are breaching lockdown measures by being outside of their home.

Kit Malthouse: The police continue to apply the usual safeguarding and referral procedures, working in partnership with agencies such as social services and local authorities to support vulnerable children. This has not changed under the new social distancing measures. The National Police Chief’s Council and College of Policing have issued guidance to forces that specifically asks officers to consider safeguarding issues and ensure the child’s welfare.

Asylum: Finance

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of asylum support rates.

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make it her policy to increase asylum support rates.

Chris Philp: We are currently reviewing the level of the cash allowances, as we do each year, to ensure that they remain capable of meeting the essential living needs of asylum seekers.

Migrant Workers: Visas

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will publish guidance on which frontline workers are eligible to receive an automatic one-year visa extension if their visa is due to expire before 1 October 2020.

Kevin Foster: Details of the automatic visa extension, and other immigration changes relating to COVID-19 can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-immigration-and-borders.

Civil Partnerships and Marriage: Coronavirus

Dame Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Office, whether she has plans to suspend notice fees for (a) marriages and (b) civil partnerships for couples that have been required to cancel their wedding as a result of the covid-19 outbreak and whose notice period will expire before the wedding can be rearranged.

Kevin Foster: The notice fee is paid to the local authority and is for the service provided at the time the notice is given. Fees can be reduced, waived or refunded on compassionate grounds or in cases of hardship, and it is for each local authority to determine when this can be applied.

Offences against Children: Netherlands

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with her Dutch counterpart on reducing the volume of child sexual abuse images and videos that are hosted in that country.

Victoria Atkins: The Government is committed to tackling child sexual exploitation and abuse wherever and however it occurs. There can be no safe space for paedophiles to operate either here or abroad and we will do all we can to keep children safe. We continue to work closely with law enforcement in the UK and international partners to close down online networks and bring offenders to justice. We announced in the 2019 Spending Round an investment of an £30 million to support UK law enforcement to bear down on child sexual exploitation and abuse.The Government is working closely with the Netherlands to tackle online child sexual abuse material that is held in, and distributed from, the Netherlands and available in the UK. The Dutch approach to addressing the threat of online child sexual exploitation and abuse was outlined in a letter from their Ministry of Justice and Security to the European Union. This provided a useful platform for our engagement on how we can work together on this issue, identify areas of common interest, best practice and ways to coordinate our efforts to tackle the threat.The Dutch hotline, EOKM, will also be working with the UK’s Internet Watch Foundation to combat the issue of child sexual abuse material. In 1996 when the Internet Watch Foundation was founded, the UK hosted 18% of the global total of online child sexual abuse content; in 2019 this figure was just 0.1%.UK police have existing powers under section 72 and Schedule 2 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 which provides for extra-territorial jurisdiction in relation to certain offences under the 2003 Act where the victim is under the age of 18 years old. We continue to look at what more we can do with our international partners giving due consideration to the findings of the “Children Outside the UK report’ published by the Independent Inquiry on Child Sexual Abuse in January 2020.

Immigrants: Detainees

Angela Crawley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to reduce the number of people who are (a) held in immigration detention and (b) unlawfully detained.

Chris Philp: We are making good progress with an ambitious and systematic programme of immigration detention reform, at the heart of which is a Government commitment, over time, to secure a material reduction in the number of people detained and the length of time they spend in detention, coupled with improved welfare for detainees and a culture that maintains the highest standards of professionalism. As part of this reform, we are maximising the use of existing alternatives to detention and exploring new approaches including a current pilot to support vulnerable women in the community who would otherwise be detained at Yarl’s Wood. We are progressing these priorities all while continuing to tackle abuse of the immigration system. The immigration estate is safer, more secure, and almost 40 per cent smaller than in 2015, with only four per cent of individuals detained for more than four months, and only two per cent of individuals detained for more than six months in year ending December 2019. Detention only exceeds these timescales in the most complex cases, almost always where serious and/or persistent criminality is involved. Reducing instances of when the Courts find that we have unlawfully detained an individual is a priority. Often, an initial decision to detain will be appropriate, before a change in the individual’s circumstances undermines this decision. As part of our response to the Home Affairs Committee immigration detention report, the Home Office has begun a programme of work focused on litigation outcomes to ensure that best practice is shared, that lessons are learned, and that we reduce instances of unlawful detention.

Police: Disease Control

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the powers afforded to police forces on enforcing social distancing guidelines.

Kit Malthouse: The Home Office is continuing to work with forces to address and correct any errors, to continue to maintain public trust. As per the recommendations, we will work with the NPCC and College of Policing to monitor enforcement across the country.New enforcement powers have reaffirmed that policing by consent is at the heart of British policing. We are confident that police enforcement continues to be proportionate and effective.

Police: Disease Control

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance has been issued to police forces on enforcing social distancing guidelines.

Kit Malthouse: We worked quickly and closely with our policing partners to issue operational guidance to all forces on the new regulations and the powers available to them, to ensure they are used proportionately and consistently. This guidance was issued to forces on the 26th March, and can be found through the link below: https://www.college.police.uk/What-we-do/COVID-19/Documents/What-constitutes-a-reasonable-excuse.pdf

Immigration Controls: Travel Restrictions

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether Border Force officers have been instructed to make an assessment of whether travel to the UK is essential and whether those officers have the power to refuse entry to the UK on grounds of non-essential travel.

Chris Philp: Border Force officers continue to process arriving passengers in accordance with the Immigration Rules at ports across the UK, assessing each passenger on a case by case basis. We will continue to ensure our staff have clear guidance in place as to the correct interpretation of the Immigration Rules when assessing visitors seeking entry to the UK. Any decision to implement additional restrictions on international travel to the UK or on arrival at ports/airports will be made by Ministers.

Free Movement of People

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to ensure that bereaved families of workers who move to the UK will recieve the same level of protection provided to workers under European free movement legislation.

Kevin Foster: As set out in the announcement by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on 27 April, family members of NHS workers who die as a result of contracting Coronavirus (Covid-19) will receive a £60,000 payment from the Government.In addition, the Home Secretary has confirmed we will grant immediate Indefinite Leave to Remain to families of NHS health workers who die as a result of contracting Coronavirus.

Immigration: Coronavirus

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department plans to reinstate the Settlement Scheme online application for non-EEA nationals that do not have a Biometric Residence Permit during the covid-19 outbreak.

Kevin Foster: As part of the application process, non-EEA citizens need to provide their Biometrics if they are not already in possession of a Biometric Residence Card. In line with the latest advice from Public Health England the UK Visa and Citizenship Application Centres (UKVCAS) where non-EEA citizens need to attend to have their biometrics taken are temporarily closed in accordance with advice on limiting the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).The government will look again at these measures at regular intervals and relax them if the evidence shows this is possible.Those applicants who already hold a Biometric Residence Card do not need to provide biometrics and so are still able to apply to the scheme while the current restrictions are in place.UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) has set up a dedicated team for customers with immigration queries related to coronavirus, including questions about urgent, compelling, compassionate cases. More information can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-uk-visa-applicants-and-temporary-uk-residents

Immigration: Families

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to amend the Minimum Income Requirement to ensure that UK citizens and settled persons sponsoring their family members under the immigration rules are not penalised by (a) being furloughed, (b) having a wage cut and (c) being made redundant as a result of the covid-19 pandemic.

Kevin Foster: The Home Office has put in place a range of measures to support those affected by the Covid-19 outbreak. We continue to monitor the situation closely and take these exceptional circumstances into account.The minimum income requirement can be met in a number of ways in addition to or instead of income from employment or self-employment. For example, income from the couple’s investments, property rental or pension may also be taken into account, together with their cash savings. Where there are exceptional circumstances, other sources of income can also be taken into account.These are unprecedented times and we may make further temporary adjustments to requirements where necessary and appropriate. We will ensure people are not unduly affected or penalised by circumstances beyond their control.

Immigrants: Finance

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many (a) asylum seekers and (b) refugees with no recourse to public funds have been provided with (i) accommodation and (ii) other support by the Government during the covid-19 outbreak.

Chris Philp: Asylum seekers continue to be provided with accommodation and other support by the Home Office if they would otherwise be destitute. Data on the numbers receiving this assistance is published at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/asylum-and-resettlement-datasets#asylum-support People granted refugee status in the United Kingdom are able to access the mainstream benefits in the same way as a British Citizen. No data is available on the number receiving that assistance. As a temporary measure in light of Covid-19, any asylum seeker in Home Office accommodation who is granted refugee status is being allowed to remain where they are until the end of June. The arrangement will be reviewed at that point.

Immigration Controls: Coronavirus

Chris Elmore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of precautionary plans in place at UK borders for people travelling into the UK during the covid-19 pandemic.

Chris Philp: Our approach to tackling coronavirus has been driven by the latest scientific and medical advice provided by SAGE and Public Health England. In line with that advice, to date, no changes have been required at the UK border.Any decision to implement additional restrictions on international travel to the UK or on arrival at ports/airports will be made by Ministers.We are continuously reviewing the most appropriate response at the UK border to the changing situation in relation to CV-19, both in the UK and across the international community.

Domestic Abuse: Immigrants

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the oral contribution of 28 April 2020 of the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, Official Report, column 299, whether the £1.5 million pilot fund to cover the cost of safe accommodation for migrant victims of domestic abuse is an extension of an existing pilot fund.

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate she has made of the number of victims of domestic abuse will be able to (a) access accommodation as a result of the £1.5 million pilot fund to cover the cost of safe accommodation for migrant victims of domestic abuse; and for how long each of those victims will be able to stay at that accommodation.

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the second reading of the Domestic Abuse Bill, what evidence her Department is seeking to gather through the £1.5 million pilot fund to cover the cost of safe accommodation for migrant victims of domestic abuse.

Victoria Atkins: Further details on the pilot fund will be set out in the report of the review to be published before Report stage – the date for which has yet to be announced.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking with UK Visas and Immigration to (a) increase capacity and (b) reduce bureaucracy in Tier 4 student visa applications during the covid-19 outbreak.

Kevin Foster: The Home Office has alreadypublished guidance setting out a range of temporary concessions for Tier 4 applicants and sponsors, in order to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on them.It can be found on the Government website by following this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-tier-4-sponsors-migrants-and-short-term-students

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether EU/EEA nationals entering the UK for full-time study at a UK university in academic year 2020-21 will be required to apply for a Tier 4 visa.

Kevin Foster: EEA nationals arriving in the UK prior to the end of the transition period (31 December 2020) will be able to enter the UK on the basis of free movement. EEA nationals arriving on this basis will be able to apply for settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.This information is already available on the Government website by following this link:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/studying-in-the-uk-guidance-for-eu-studentsAny EEA national intending to enter the UK after January 2021, for the purposes of study, will be required to apply for a visa under the student route.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate her Department has made of the number of Tier 4 visa applications that will be made during summer 2020, and if she will make a statement.

Chris Philp: This is not data we currently publish, but plans have been made and are under constant review to take account of impacts of the COVID outbreak.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has plans to extend the Tier 4 service standard for applications to be processed by UKVI.

Kevin Foster: There are no current plans to extend Tier 4 service standards, but we keep these under review.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when her Department plans to issue guidance for Tier 4 students on visas that have been extended to 31 May 2020 but are unable to leave the UK by that date.

Kevin Foster: The exceptional provisions outlined in the Covid-19 guidance for students, are being reviewed regularly. We will review the Covid-19 extensions prior to 31 May and will publish information on Gov.uk prior to this date.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Emma Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the utility of credibility interviews in assessing Tier 4 applicants; and if she will make a statement.

Kevin Foster: Credibility interviews form an important part of the Tier 4 application process, they ensure migrants are genuinely intending to study within the UK and can speak and comprehend English to a sufficient level.The International Education Strategy outlines the Government’s ambition to expand our education exports to £35 Billion by 2030. One of the actions outlined within the International Education Strategy, is to improve the customer journey by reviewing credibility interviews to ensure they are appropriately focused.

Asylum: Employment

Ruth Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on permitting asylum seekers to accept work outside the shortage occupancy list.

Chris Philp: Asylum seeker right to work is a complex issue. The review of the policy is ongoing, and we are considering the evidence put forward on the issue. It is crucial we take the time to get this right.

Marriage: Coronavirus

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has plans to allow marriage ceremonies to take place with social distancing after the covid-19 lockdown.

Kevin Foster: Marriages and Civil Partnerships are not currently taking place. This position remains under review in line with any changes to Public Health guidelines.

Immigrants: Finance

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an area-based assessment of the correlation between numbers of residents having no recourse to public funds and the largest numbers of deaths involving covid-19; and if she will make a statement.

Chris Philp: The Government has already commissioned work from Public Health England to consider the impact of various factors such as ethnicity, obesity, age, gender and geographical location and how these may have an impact on someone’s susceptibility to the virus. We will consider whether further work is necessary. .Everyone who contracts Covid-19 will be treated for free, regardless of their immigration status. NHS trusts have been advised that no immigration checks are required for those undergoing testing or treatment for Covid-19. The Government therefore urges anyone who needs medical care for Covid-19 to seek it.

Travel Restrictions: Coronavirus

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which (a) Minister and (b) officials in her Department were provided with SAGE (a) advice and (b) modelling on the potential effect of introducing restrictions at the UK borders on the spread of covid-19 in the UK.

Chris Philp: The Home Office Chief Scientific Adviser participates in SAGE and regularly updates Home Office ministers and officials on all aspects of SAGE relating to their departmental interests.

Cabinet Office

Newspaper Press: Coronavirus

Christian Matheson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answers of 27 April 2020 to Questions 37724 and 37725, which newspaper titles have received Government-funded advertising arising from the national campaign to provide information on covid-19.

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of ring-fencing advertising slots bought by Public Health England for use on community radio and for non-profit local TV broadcasters.

Chloe Smith: Further to the answers given to PQs 37724 and 37725 on 27 April 2020, in light of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Government has developed a national campaign to provide information, guidance and reassurance to the public.The campaign spans owned, earned and paid-for channels, including local radio and TV, to maximise reach and engagement. We are constantly reviewing our use of each of these channels and amending campaign activity accordingly to ensure our messaging reaches as many people as possible.

Service Industries: Coronavirus

Mhairi Black: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans he has to honour supermarket workers, cleaners, factory workers and other low paid key workers for their work during the covid-19 outbreak.

Suzanne Webb: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he has had with Ministers in his Department on introducing formal recognition by the Government for heroic actions taken during the covid-19 outbreak.

Mhairi Black: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans his Department has to honour the work of Royal Mail workers during the covid-19 outbreak.

Chloe Smith: Further to the answer given by my Rt Hon Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster during his oral statement on 28 April 2020, the Government will ensure recognition is both timely and appropriate and is reflective of the profound gratitude the nation feels towards everyone on the frontline.

Cabinet Office: Remote Working

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many staff in his Department have formal arrangements to work from home during the covid-19 outbreak.

Chloe Smith: Where possible Cabinet Office officials are working from home during the COVID-19 crisis, and as a result the vast majority of civil servants are working from home on any given day. The Department has issued staff with working from home guidance. However, only a small number of staff are formally 'designated homeworkers'. Of those who have declared, 20 members of staff are 'designated homeworkers' as of 30 April 2020.

Public Health: Coronavirus

Tom Tugendhat: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much the Government has spent with local television stations on the coronavirus information campaign in (a) Kent, and (b) across the UK.

Chloe Smith: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to PQ 33512 on 21 April 2020.

Local Government: Coronavirus

Ben Bradley: What discussions his Department has had with Local Resilience Forums on the level of local authority engagement in the response to the covid-19 outbreak.

Penny Mordaunt: This Government is in frequent contact with all 38 Local Resilience Forums in England, with officials present at all strategic level meetings. Each Forum has an assigned Government Liaison Officer who serves as a direct line between the Forum and central government. Weekly calls take place between officials and Local Resilience Forum Chairs.Of course, we recognise that local authorities' functions vary across the UK and that the devolved administrations are responsible for supporting their respective resilience partnerships. The Government has been in regular contact with the devolved administrations in order to coordinate a UK-wide response to the pandemic.

Press Conferences: Coronavirus

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many requests the Government has received for the provision of a British Sign Language interpreter at the televised daily covid-19 briefings from Hon Members (a) on the daily conference calls with his Department and (b) through all forms of communication with his Department.

Munira Wilson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reasons the Government chose not to provide a live British Sign Language interpreter at each daily covid-19 briefing.

Chloe Smith: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to PQs 39766 and 41529 on 4 May 2020.

UK Membership of EU: Referendums

Mr Peter Bone: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many investigations were carried out by public bodies into (a) leave and (b) remain campaign organisations involved in the 2016 EU referendum; and what the (i) direct costs and (ii) costs paid to external organisations were of each investigation.

Chloe Smith: This information is not held by the Cabinet Office.Investigations were carried out by a range of public bodies in relation to organisations campaigning on both sides in the 2016 EU referendum. These include the Electoral Commission, National Crime Agency, Metropolitan Police and Information Commissioner’s Office.

Electoral Commission: Public Appointments

Mr Peter Bone: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how the electoral commissioners are appointed; and what steps the Government takes to ensure those commissioners will be impartial and independent.

Chloe Smith: The Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission is required to oversee the procedure for selecting candidates for appointment to the Electoral Commission in accordance with the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act (“PPERA”) 2000. Candidates that are put forward are subject to an Address in the House of Commons, and require approval by the Speaker of the House of Commons and Her Majesty the Queen. The Electoral Commission is independent of Government.

Public Health: Coronavirus

Ms Angela Eagle: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much the Government has spent on the covid-19 public information campaign in (a) the North West, (b) the South East and (c) London.

Chloe Smith: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to PQ 33512 on 21 April 2020.

Public Health: Coronavirus

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will ensure that the Government’s covid-19 public information campaign makes widespread use of local news outlets in addition to regional and national newspapers.

Chloe Smith: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to PQs 37724 and 37725 on 27 April 2020.

Ministerial Responsibility

Lloyd Russell-Moyle: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to publish an update of the document entitled, Government ministers and responsibilities; and if he will make it his policy to publish that document in (a) CSV and (b) PDF formats.

Chloe Smith: Details of ministerial responsibilities can be found on GOV.UK. The List of Ministerial Responsibilities document was last updated in October 2019 and was made available in PDF and CSV formats. An update will be published in due course.

Treasury

PAYE

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many employees that started work with an employer between 28 February 2020 and 19 March 2020 were included in a real-time payment submission received by HMRC (a) on and (b) before 19 March 2020.

Jesse Norman: As a result of incomplete information supplied in some PAYE full payment submissions, such as employee start dates, it is not possible to provide an answer to the question.

PAYE

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many employees that started work with a new employer between 28 February 2020 and 19 March 2020 were included in a Real-Time Payment Submission from that employer that reached HMRC between 20 March 2020 and 28 April 2020.

Jesse Norman: As a result of incomplete information supplied in some PAYE full payment submissions, such as employee start dates, it is not possible for HMRC to provide an answer to the question.

Taxation: Coronavirus

Dr James Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of extending financial support during the covid-19 outbreak by deferring for six months the introduction of planned tax changes to be enforced after 1 April 2020.

Jesse Norman: The Government has announced unprecedented support for public services, businesses and workers to protect against the current economic emergency. These steps are necessary to ensure that the country, economy and public finances are stronger in the longer term. The Government has not announced a six-month deferral of tax changes planned to be enforced from 1 April 2020. However, as part of the additional support the Government is providing for businesses and individuals to deal with the economic impacts of COVID-19, changes to the off-payroll working rules have been delayed for one year from 6 April 2020 to 6 April 2021. The costing implications of the delay will be subject to scrutiny by the Office for Budget Responsibility, and will be published at the next fiscal event.

Business: Coronavirus

Owen Thompson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure that businesses facing financial difficulties during the covid-19 outbreak are able to obtain the overdrafts they need from banks.

John Glen: The Government recognises that the outbreak of COVID-19 may lead to businesses facing financial difficulty and uncertainty. The Government has set out an unprecedented package of support for all businesses affected by this crisis, including the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS), and the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS). Under CBILS, borrowers can apply for finance facilities, including overdrafts, of £50,001 to £5 million for up to 6 years. The Government will cover the first 12 months’ interest payments and any fees on these facilities. Under CLBILS, borrowers can apply for finance facilities, including overdrafts, of up to £25 million for businesses with a turnover between £45 million and £250 million, and up to £50 million to businesses with a turnover of over £250 million. Under BBLS, businesses can apply for a loan between £2,000 and £50,000, subject to a maximum of 25% of turnover, for a fixed 6-year term. The Government will cover the first 12 months’ interest payments and any fees, and no repayments are due for the first year. After this period the interest rate on these loans will be 2.5%, and there are no early repayment fees.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Alexander Stafford: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department is taking to ensure that people with or living with household members with pre-existing health conditions are furloughed by their employers.

Jesse Norman: All firms affected by coronavirus are encouraged to treat their employees fairly. The scheme is already helping firms to keep millions of people in employment by covering the majority of employers’ wage costs. Firms should receive their grant within six working days of submitting claims. While there is no obligation for employers to take up the scheme, the scheme is open to all UK employers provided they have created and started a PAYE payroll scheme; enrolled for PAYE online; have a UK bank account; and that HMRC have received an RTI submission notifying payment in respect of the employee on or before 19 March 2020: www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme.If someone is shielding in line with public health guidance or required to stay home due to an individual in their household shielding and is unable to work from home, then the employee should speak to their employer about whether they plan to place staff on furlough.If a firm chooses not to furlough these staff, the staff are entitled to Statutory Sick Pay as a statutory minimum, although many employers will pay more than that in occupational sick pay.

Business: Insurance

Dr James Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with financial regulators on ensuring that insurance providers are not unfairly dismissing claims made by businesses as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

John Glen: The Government is working closely with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to ensure that the rules are being upheld during this crisis, and fully supports the FCA in its role as conduct regulator.The FCA rules require insurers to handle claims fairly and promptly; provide reasonable guidance to help a policyholder make a claim; not reject a claim unreasonably; and settle claims promptly once settlement terms are agreed. In addition, the FCA has said that, in light of COVID-19, insurers must consider very carefully the needs of their customers and show flexibility in their treatment of them. On 15 April, the FCA published a Dear CEO letter to the insurance industry on the subject of business interruption claims. This set out its expectations for the sector to be as flexible as possible, to ensure that payments for valid claims are made quickly to customers, including interim payments where required, and to clearly communicate to customers where exclusions apply. The letter can be found at the following link: www.fca.org.uk/publication/correspondence/dear-ceo-insuring-sme-business-interruption-coronavirus.pdf

Cooperatives: Coronavirus

Alex Sobel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to support co-operatives experiencing cash flow problems during the covid-19 outbreak.

Alex Sobel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to support co-operatives ineligible for covid-19 related Government grant funding.

Alex Sobel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to extend access for covid-19 related Government grants to co-operatives.

Alex Sobel: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to protect the long-term help of cooperative businesses.

John Glen: The Chancellor has set out a package of temporary, timely and targeted measures to support public services, people and businesses through this period of disruption caused by COVID-19. This package includes a £10,000 cash grant to our smallest businesses, delivered by local authorities. Small businesses, including co-operatives, that pay little or no business rates and are eligible for small business rate relief or rural rate relief will be contacted by their local authority. Additional support has been made available for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses, including co-operatives. The package also includes the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), under which viable businesses with a turnover of less than £45m are eligible to apply for a loan of up to £5m. Government will provide an 80% guarantee on each of these loans, and cover the first 12 months interest payments and any fees. On 27 April, the Chancellor also announced the Bounce Back Loans Scheme (BBLS), which ensures that the smallest businesses can access up to £50,000 loans in a matter of just days. The Government will provide lenders with a 100% guarantee on each loan, to give lenders the confidence they need to support the smallest businesses in the country. The Government will also cover the first 12 months interest payments and any fees, and no businesses will be required to make repayments until the initial 12-month period has ended. Co-operatives are eligible for CBILS and will be eligible for the BBLS, when it launches on 4 May, subject to the wider eligibility requirements for these schemes. On 20 March, the Government announced the unprecedented Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to help firms keep millions of people in employment. All UK employers can apply for a grant that covers 80% of furloughed employees’ usual monthly wage costs, up to £2500 a month, plus the associated Employer National Insurance contributions and pension contributions. The Government recognises the value of co-operatives, and officials will continue to engage with sector representatives to understand the impact of the disruption caused by COVID-19.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate his Department has made of the cost to the public purse of extending the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme's eligibility cut-off date from 19 March to 31 March 2020.

Rachel Hopkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for what reasons the Government extended the eligibility date for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to 19 March 2020 and not 31 March 2020.

Jesse Norman: The Government has prioritised help for the greatest number of people as quickly as possible through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) which will enable millions of people to remain employed. 19 March 2020 has been chosen as the cut-off date for the CJRS as this date is just before the scheme was announced (20 March). Extending the cut-off date beyond 20 March would significantly slow down the system while risking substantial levels of fraud. Those not eligible for this grant may have access to other Government support, including a package of temporary welfare measures and up to three months’ mortgage payment holidays for those in difficulty with mortgage payments.

Non-domestic Rates: Appeals

James Wild: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many appeals against the rateable value of premises the Valuation Office Agency is considering.

Jesse Norman: The appeals process consists of three stages designed to ensure queries are dealt with at the earliest possible point: Check, Challenge and Appeal. The VOA deals with the Check and Challenge stages. Appeals are the responsibility of the independent Valuation Tribunal Service. Statistics on Appeals can be found on their website at https://www.valuationtribunal.gov.uk/about-us/publications-policies/vts-statistics/.

Arts: Coronavirus

Scott Benton: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to provide financial support to casual workers and freelancers in the creative, entertainment, event and performance industries during the covid-19 outbreak.

Jesse Norman: The Government has announced unprecedented support for businesses and workers to protect them against the current economic emergency. The Government has made significant changes to the operation of Statutory Sick Pay, Universal Credit, and Employment and Support Allowance, in order that people have quicker and more generous access to a support system. For casual workers and freelancers, the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) will provide grants to those who are self-employed, or members of partnerships, worth 80% of their trading profits/partnership trading profits, up to a maximum of £2,500 per month. The value of the grant is based on a three-year average of trading/partnership trading profits, from the tax years 2016-17 to 2018-19. SEISS is available to those who generate majority of their income from self -employment and who earn less than £50,000. Some 95% of people who receive the majority of their income from self-employment could benefit from this scheme.To support those on low incomes, the Government has announced a package of temporary welfare measures, including:A £20 per week increase to the Universal Credit (UC) standard allowance and Working Tax Credit basic element.An increase in the Local Housing Allowance rates for UC and Housing Benefit claimants.A relaxation of the UC minimum income floor for all self-employed UC claimants affected by the economic impacts of COVID-19.Advances for all new UC claimants are now available online or via telephone. Details of the range of support for individuals affected by COVID-19 is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/support-for-those-affected-by-covid-19/support-for-those-affected-by-covid-19.

Self-employment Income Support Scheme: Directors

Owen Thompson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will review his decision to count neither profit invested back into the development of self-employed businesses nor paid as dividends to directors of small limited companies as income for the purposes of the Coronavirus Self Employed Income Support Scheme.

Jesse Norman: The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) is intended to support individuals who rely primarily on their trading profits from self-employment as their main source of income, and whose income has been adversely affected by COVID-19. Income from dividends is a return on investment in the company, rather than wages, and is not eligible for support. Under current reporting mechanisms it is not possible for HM Revenue and Customs to distinguish between dividends derived from an individual’s own company and dividends from other sources, and between dividends in lieu of employment income and as returns from other corporate activity. Expanding the scope would require HMRC to collect and verify new information. This would take longer to deliver and put at risk the other schemes which the Government is committed to delivering as quickly as possible. Individuals who are not eligible for the SEISS may have access to other support Government is providing, including the Bounce Back Loans Scheme for small businesses, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, and the deferral of tax payments. More information about the full range of business support measures is available at: www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support/.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: Charities

Henry Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the staff of charities can participate in voluntary fundraising activities for their employer while furloughed under the Coronavirus Jobs Retention Scheme.

Henry Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if employees of charities furloughed under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme can participate in fundraising activities.

Jesse Norman: The purpose of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is to support people who would otherwise have been made redundant. To prevent fraudulent claims, the Government has made it clear that individuals cannot work or volunteer for their organisation.This is to protect individuals too; if workers were allowed to volunteer for their employer, the employer could ask them to work in an effectively full time way while only paying them 80% of the wages. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is working with other government departments and the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector to identify areas where volunteers can contribute to the COVID-19 response.

Self-employment Income Support Scheme: Letting Agents

Alberto Costa: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether individuals who run and manage rental properties are eligible for the Self Employment Income Support Scheme.

Jesse Norman: The new Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) will help those with lost trading profits due to COVID-19. It means the UK will have one of the most generous self-employed COVID-19 support schemes in the world. Property income is distinct from trading income and is therefore not covered by the SEISS. Those who are not eligible for the SEISS may be eligible for other elements of the Government’s financial support package. Following urgent discussions with the banking industry, the mortgage payment holiday of up to three months will be extended to landlords whose tenants are experiencing difficulties due to coronavirus.  In addition, the Government has announced immediate steps to give businesses access to cash to pay rent, salaries or suppliers. More information about the full range of business support measures is available at www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support.

Personal Income

Mhairi Black: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he had made of the potential merits of introducing a universal basic income before announcing the covid-19 financial support schemes that are now in place.

Steve Barclay: I refer the Honourable Member to my written answer to Parliamentary Question 38615 that was given on 28 April 2020 www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2020-04-21/38615/

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Mhairi Black: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether historical (a) PAYE and tax references, (b) contracts of employment, (c) (i) notice and (ii) acceptance letters are adequate proof of employment status for acceptance on to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

Jesse Norman: In March, the Government announced the unprecedented Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to help firms keep millions of people in employment. HMRC have developed and delivered the scheme at record speed, and it opened for claims on 20 April, just one month after it was announced. Employers can claim for furloughed employees who were employed on 19 March and on their PAYE payroll on or before 19 March 2020. This means that an RTI submission notifying payment in respect of that employee must have been made on or before 19 March 2020. The scheme has been set up to operate at significant scale and with limited manual intervention. The Government has prioritised helping the greatest number of people as quickly as possible, and this approach achieves that, balancing it against the risk of fraud that exists as soon as the scheme became public. Those not eligible for the scheme may have access to other support Government is providing, including a package of temporary welfare measures and up to three months’ mortgage payment holidays for those in difficulty with mortgage payments.

Credit Cards: Coronavirus

Carla Lockhart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with credit card providers on waiving penalties for late payment for people self-isolating on medical grounds.

John Glen: Regulatory responsibility for the consumer credit market, including credit cards, was transferred to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in 2014. On 14 April, the FCA published guidance that sets out its expectation that firms provide, for a temporary period, exceptional and immediate support to customers facing payment difficulties due to circumstances arising from COVID-19. This includes granting the customer a payment deferral for 3 months. Where a customer was in pre-existing financial difficulty, the FCA’s guidance makes clear that its existing forbearance rules would continue to apply. These would include, for example, the firm considering suspending, reducing, waiving, or cancelling any further interest or charges, deferring payment of arrears, or accepting token payments for a reasonable period of time. The Government is committed to doing whatever it takes to get our nation through the impacts of COVID-19 and will continue to work closely with the FCA and industry on these matters.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Greg Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of furloughed employees of small owner limited companies due to the covid-19 outbreak.

Jesse Norman: Applications for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) opened on Monday 20th April. This is a new scheme and HMRC are currently working through the analysis they will be able to provide based on the data available. HMRC will make the timescales for publication and the types of data available in due course.

Sole Traders: Profits

Greg Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of sole traders who made average profits of between (a) £50,001 and £60,000, (b) £60,001 and £70,000, (c) £70,001 and £80,000 and (d) over £80,000 in the UK over the last three years.

Jesse Norman: HMRC have examined their data systems and because of the way the data is held, they cannot construct an average of sole trader profits over several years for such a large group within the resource constraints for a Parliamentary Question. HMRC are using Self-Assessment data to identify those eligible for the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS), and aim to contact those eligible by mid-May 2020. Eligibility for the SEISS is based on average trading profits for sole traders and income from partnerships. More information on the eligibility criteria can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-employment-income-support-scheme. Those with average profits above £50,000 are not eligible for SEISS but could still benefit from other support. The SEISS supplements the significant support already announced for UK businesses, including the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme and the deferral of tax payments. More information about the full range of business support measures is available at www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support/

Leisure: Coronavirus

Greg Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to his oral contribution of 17 March 2020, Official Report, column 964, what steps he has taken to ensure that event hire companies receive the full package of financial support under covid-19 emergency measures.

Kemi Badenoch: The Government has announced unprecedented support for business and workers to protect them against the current economic emergency. Where they have business premises, event hire companies may benefit from either of the grants schemes announced on 17 March: The Small Business Grant Fund, which provides eligible businesses with a £10,000 grant per property, for each property in receipt of Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR) or Rural Rates Relief (RRR).The Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund, which provides eligible businesses with a £10,000 grant per property, for each property used for these purposes with a rateable value of £15,000 or less and which is not in receipt of SBRR or RRR. Businesses are also eligible for a £25,000 grant per property, for each property used for these purposes with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000.  In addition to these grants, small businesses, including those in the event hire industry, may be able to benefit from the new Discretionary Grant Fund announced by the Government on 1 May. Government has provided up to an additional £617m for Local Authorities in England to enable them to make grants payments to businesses which are facing high fixed property-related costs, but have been excluded from the existing grants schemes because of the way they are treated by the business rates system. Local Authorities are responsible for defining precise eligibility for these funds, and businesses will need to apply to their Local Authority in order to receive grants. Businesses which think they may be eligible for a discretionary grant should contact their Local Authority. Businesses not eligible for these grant schemes have access to other support measures the Government has introduced, including: The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS)The Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBL) for SMEsVAT deferral for up to 12 monthsThe Time To Pay scheme, through which businesses and self-employed individuals in financial distress, and with outstanding tax liabilities, can receive support with their tax affairsProtection for commercial leaseholders against automatic forfeiture for non-payment until June 30, 2020 The Business Support website provides further information about how businesses can access the support that has been made available, who is eligible, when the schemes open and how to apply - https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support.

Non-domestic Rates: Northern Ireland

Carla Lockhart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions he has had with the Minister of Finance in Northern Ireland on the length of business rates relief offered in Northern Ireland.

Jesse Norman: Business rates policy is devolved and the Northern Ireland Executive is receiving Barnett consequentials on business rate reliefs provided in England as part of the response to COVID-19. HM Treasury ministers and officials are in regular contact with their counterparts in the devolved administrations as part of the response to COVID-19, including most recently a meeting between the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and the Finance Ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on 30 April.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: Public Sector

Sir Peter Bottomley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether public sector employees under PAYE on zero-hours contracts are eligible for the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme in the event that those employees are unable to be redeployed.

Jesse Norman: The Government expects that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will not be used by many public sector organisations, as most public sector employees are continuing to provide essential public services or contributing to the response to the coronavirus outbreak. Where employers receive public funding for staff costs, and that funding is continuing, the Government expect employers to use that money to continue to pay staff in the usual fashion, and correspondingly not furlough them. This also applies to non-public sector employers who receive public funding for staff costs. Organisations who are receiving public funding specifically to provide services necessary to respond to COVID-19 are not expected to furlough staff. In a small number of cases, for example where organisations are not primarily funded by the Government and whose staff cannot be redeployed to assist with the coronavirus response, the scheme may be appropriate for some staff. Employees on any type of employment contract are eligible for the scheme, including those on zero-hours contracts.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Carla Lockhart: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to permit 80 per cent support to people who are not on any payroll at the dates of eligibility due to a change of employment.

Jesse Norman: Furloughed employees must have been on their employer’s PAYE payroll and HMRC must have received an RTI (Real Time Information) submission notifying payment in respect of that employee on or before 19 March 2020. The use of RTI allows HMRC to verify claims in the most efficient and timely way, ensuring payments can be made quickly while reducing the risk of fraud. Without the use of RTI returns it would be difficult to verify claims without significant additional checks, which would delay payment for genuine claims. It is possible for individuals who were on their employer’s PAYE payroll on or before 28 February 2020, but not 19 March 2020, to be rehired and furloughed. Further guidance on this can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-could-be-covered-by-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme. The Government is also supporting people on low incomes who need to rely on the welfare system, through a significant package of temporary measures. This includes a £20 per week increase to the Universal Credit standard allowance and Working Tax Credit basic element, and a nearly £1bn increase in support for renters through increases to the Local Housing Allowance rates for Universal Credit and Housing Benefit claimants. These changes will benefit all new and existing claimants. Anyone can check their eligibility and apply for Universal Credit by visiting https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit.

Credit Rating: Coronavirus

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect of covid-19 on personal credit ratings.

John Glen: On 14 April, the FCA published guidance that sets out what it expects firms to do for customers who are facing payment difficulties due to the exceptional circumstances arising from COVID-19. This includes granting the customer a payment deferral for at least 3 months. In relation to personal credit ratings, the guidance sets out that lenders should not report a worsening arrears status on the customer’s credit file during the payment deferral period. It also states that where customers have been unable to agree a payment deferral because of the lender’s operational difficulties and therefore miss a payment, or where they have entered into a similar temporary arrangement with the lender due to COVID-19 which results in a worsening arrears status, the FCA expects firms to work with the customer and credit reference agencies to ensure that any necessary rectifications are made to credit files. The Government continues to work closely with the FCA and industry on this matter and stand ready to protect consumers wherever it is necessary.

Non-domestic Rates: Coronavirus

Darren Jones: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to allow local authorities to extend covid-19 business rates relief for 2020-21 tax year to English language centres.

Jesse Norman: The Government has provided enhanced support to the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors through business rates relief given the direct and acute impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on those sectors. A range of further measures to support all businesses, including those not eligible for the business rates holiday, such as English language centres, has also been made available. For example, the Government has launched the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to help firms keep people in employment, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme offering loans of up to £5 million for SMEs, and is deferring VAT payments for this quarter. The Government will consider any further financial assistance necessary to help businesses get through this period.

Treasury: Remote Working

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff in his Department have formal arrangements to work from home during the covid-19 outbreak.

Kemi Badenoch: In response to the Prime Minister’s statement on 16 March, the Civil Service moved to remote working by default, where possible to do so. While some staff have formal home working arrangements under HM Treasury’s Flexible Working provisions, all staff are currently required to work from home to support the government measures in limiting the spread of covid-19. On the very rare occasions where it is not possible for Treasury employees to work from home they may work from the office with the permission of their Director. On average the department has less than 1% of its workforce physically attending the workplace during lockdown period.

Small Businesses: Coronavirus

John Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will increase the Government's financial support for (a) self employed and (b) small businesses during the covid-19 lockdown.

Kemi Badenoch: On April 27 the Government announced the new Bounce Back Loans (BBL) Scheme, which will ensure that the smallest businesses can access loans in a matter of just days. These loans will be from £2,000 up to £50,000, capped at 25% of firms’ turnover. The Government will provide lenders with a 100% guarantee on each loan, to give lenders the confidence they need to support the smallest businesses in the country. The Government will cover the first 12 months of interest payments and fees charged to the business by the lender. Small businesses may also be able to benefit from the new Discretionary Grant Fund announced by the Government on 1 May. The Government has provided up to an additional £617m for Local Authorities in England to enable them to make grants payments to businesses which are facing high fixed property-related costs, but have been excluded from the existing grants schemes because of the way they are treated by the business rates system. Local Authorities are responsible for defining precise eligibility for these funds, and businesses will need to apply to their Local Authority in order to receive grants. Businesses and self-employed individuals may also benefit from a range of other support measures including:The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS)A 12-month business rates holiday for all eligible retail, leisure and hospitality businesses in EnglandSmall business grant funding of £10,000 for all business in receipt of small business rate relief or rural rate relief;The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS)VAT deferral for up to 12 monthsThe Time To Pay scheme, through which businesses and self-employed individuals in financial distress, and with outstanding tax liabilities, can receive support with their tax affairsProtection for commercial leaseholders against automatic forfeiture for non-payment until June 30, 2020 The Business Support website provides further information about how businesses can access the support that has been made available, who is eligible, when the schemes open and how to apply - https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support.

Supply Teachers: Coronavirus

Sir Desmond Swayne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of whether supply teachers who teach under an umbrella company have not been furloughed by their company during the covid-19 outbreak due to that company's fear of incurring additional liabilities; and if he will provide guidance to umbrella companies on holiday pay entitlements for employees furloughed through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

Jesse Norman: The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) covers employees on any type of employment contract, including full-time, part-time, agency, flexible or zero-hour contracts. It covers agency workers (including those employed by umbrella companies), so long as the other conditions of the scheme are met. It is for employers to decide to whom to offer a furlough. Equality and discrimination laws will apply to such decisions in the usual way. For the purposes of making a claim under CJRS, it is not possible for the Government to set out how the scheme will apply to every possible set of contractual arrangements. However, employers should follow the published online guidance in order to calculate the correct reference pay. Where an employee is on furlough and is also on annual leave in accordance with their contract and any relevant employment law, the employer can claim for that employee under CJRS. No additional funds can be claimed under CJRS, beyond those specified in the online guidance. BEIS will be issuing further guidance on issues relating to furloughed employees and accrued leave.

Laboratories: coronavirus

Afzal Khan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans the Government has to allow scientific research laboratories to re-open during the covid-19 outbreak.

Kemi Badenoch: During this difficult time for our country, we recognise the extreme disruption the necessary actions are having on people’s lives, their business, their jobs and the nation’s economy. This includes many scientific researchers and the vital work they do in supporting public health and the UK’s vibrant R&D ecosystem. The Government’s strategy is to reduce the infection rate, ease pressure on the NHS and save lives. The First Secretary announced on April 16 that the measures would remain in place for at least the next three weeks.

Service Industries: Coronavirus

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to publish the Government's policy on extended support for the hospitality industry in the event of a gradual easing of the lockdown; what discussions he has had with representatives of the hospitality industry on the long-term effect of social distancing on that industry; and if he will make a statement.

Kemi Badenoch: During this difficult time the Treasury is working intensively with employers, delivery partners, industry groups and other government departments to understand the long-term effects of social distancing across all key areas of the economy. The Government recognises the extreme disruption the necessary actions to combat Covid-19 are having on businesses and sectors like hospitality. That is why the Chancellor has already announced unprecedented support for individuals and businesses, to protect against the current economic emergency. This includes grant schemes such as the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund and the Discretionary Grant Fund; a range of government-backed and guaranteed loan schemes; the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, and the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme. Businesses in retail, hospitality and leisure sectors may further be eligible for a business rates holiday. We will continue to monitor the impact of government support with regard to supporting public services, businesses, individuals, and sectors such as hospitality. We are also keeping the exit strategy of all schemes under review as we respond to this pandemic and consider the longer-term economic recovery.

Aviation: Coronavirus

Grahame Morris: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of providing financial assistance to the aviation sector during the covid-19 outbreak by introducing airline rescue packages equivalent to those taken by Governments in (a) the US, (b) Singapore, (c) Germany, (d) The Netherlands, (e) France, (f) Italy, (g) Australia, (h) Norway, (i) Sweden and (j) Finland.

Steve Barclay: The Government recognises the challenging times facing the aviation sector as a result of COVID-19 and the Chancellor wrote to the aviation sector on 24 March to set out the Government’s position and the support measures available. The Government has announced an unprecedented package of support for workers and businesses to protect against the current economic emergency. This includes the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, which help firms to retain employees. This Scheme will allow businesses to put employees on temporary leave, with the Government paying cash grants of 80% of their wages up to a cap of £2,500 per month, providing the business keeps the person employed. The Government is also prepared to enter negotiations with individual companies seeking bespoke support as a last resort, having exhausted other options. However further taxpayer support would only be possible if all commercial avenues have been fully explored, including raising further capital from existing investors and discussing arrangements with financial stakeholders.

Hire Services: Government Assistance

Tom Tugendhat: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether events hire companies that offer dry-hire services to the public are eligible for financial support through the (a) Small Business Rate Relief, (b) Small Business Grant Fund and (c) Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund.

Kemi Badenoch: Events hire companies could be eligible for the Small Business Grant Fund if they are in receipt of Small Business Rates Relief or Rural Rates Relief. Businesses are eligible for a £10,000 per property, for each of their properties in receipt of these reliefs. Events hire companies could also be eligible for the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Fund. Businesses are eligible for a £25,000 grant per property, for each property which is used for retail, hospitality or leisure purposes with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000. Businesses are also eligible for a £10,000 grant per property, for each property used for these purposes with a rateable value of £15,000 or less which is not in receipt of Small Business Rates Relief or Rural Rates Relief. Events hire companies which are not eligible for grants from these two funds because of how they interact with the business rates system may be eligible for a discretionary grant from their Local Authority. Government has provided up to an additional £617m for Local Authorities in England to enable them to make grants payments to businesses in these circumstances. Local Authorities are responsible for defining precise eligibility for these discretionary grant funds. However, it is our intention that the following businesses should be considered as a priority for these funds: Businesses in shared offices;Regular market traders who do not have their own business rates assessment;B&Bs which pay Council Tax instead of business rates; andCharity properties in receipt of charitable business rates relief which would otherwise have been eligible for Small Business Rates Relief or Rural Rate Relief. Recipient businesses will also have to meet the following criteria: They must be facing high fixed property-related costs;They must be able to demonstrate that they have suffered a significant fall in income due to the Covid-19 crisis;They must have fewer than 50 employees;They must have been trading on or before 11th March. Businesses will need to apply to their Local Authority in order to receive grants. Each Local Authority will need to create their own process, which may take some time. We encourage businesses to look out for their Local Authority’s version of this scheme, and to contact their Local Authority for more information in due course.

Tax Avoidance: Coronavirus

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will instruct HMRC to suspend the (a) pursuit and (b) enforcement of loan charge revenues until after the covid-19 outbreak.

Jesse Norman: There is currently no HMRC debt collection activity being pursued in relation to taxpayers in respect of the loan charge. Where a taxpayer has included the loan charge on their 2018/19 tax return, HMRC will respond to any contact from them, including agreeing payment plans if requested, but will not initiate any contact or take any enforcement action ahead of the revised filing and payment deadline of 30 September 2020. There does remain a risk that, with large scale delivery at pace, some taxpayers may be contacted in error. In that case, they should contact HMRC, who will confirm that they do not need to pay until the 30 September 2020 payment deadline. HMRC have been clear on their commitment to support all taxpayers who need help to manage their disguised remuneration (DR) liabilities, including those affected by COVID-19.

Charities: Coronavirus

Munira Wilson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what support is available for small charities that are not eligible for emergency funding due to covid-19.

Kemi Badenoch: Many charities and social enterprises will benefit from the existing measures announced to support employers and businesses. Under these measures, like other businesses, charities can defer their VAT bills and pay no business rates for their shops next year. Charities are eligible for the Job Retention Scheme, the Coronavirus Business Interruptions Loan Scheme, the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme, and the Bounce Back Loans Scheme. Registered charities are now exempt from the requirement on these loan schemes that 50 per cent of the applicant's income must be derived from its Trading Activity.

Freight: Coronavirus

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 29 April 2020 to Question 39450 on financial support to small-to-medium transport companies engaged in importing and distributing PPE and other essential supplies, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on (a) cancelling and (b) deferring until at least the end of the covid-19 outbreak Business Rates for those companies; what assessment he has made of implications for his policies of the reluctance of some companies to continue trading with the prospect of facing substantial accumulated loan debt by the end of the crisis; and what steps the Government is taking to encourage otherwise viable companies not to cease trading for fear of that outcome.

Kemi Badenoch: The current business rates holiday policy aims to provide support to all eligible businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sector at this challenging time. These businesses are likely to face particularly high fixed costs, such as fixed rents and other building-related costs and are wholly or mainly being used by visiting members of the public. However, businesses outside of these sectors, such as small-to-medium transport companies, may benefit from a range of other support measures including: Small business grant funding of £10,000 for all business in receipt of small business rate relief or rural rate reliefThe Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS)The Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBL) for small and micro enterprisesVAT deferral for up to 12 monthsThe Time To Pay scheme, through which businesses and self-employed individuals in financial distress, and with outstanding tax liabilities, can receive support with their tax affairsCoronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS)Protection for commercial leaseholders against automatic forfeiture for non-payment until June 30, 2020 The Business Support website provides further information about how businesses can access the support that has been made available, who is eligible, when the schemes open and how to apply - https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support. Additional debt will not be the right answer for all businesses, and it is important that businesses consider carefully before applying for a loan. The Government will provide CBILS lenders with a guarantee of 80% on each loan (subject to a per-lender cap on claims) to give lenders further confidence in continuing to provide finance to viable SMEs. The government will not charge businesses for this guarantee. On the BBL scheme, the Government will provide lenders with a 100% guarantee on each loan, to give lenders the confidence they need to support the smallest businesses in the country. For both schemes the Government will cover the first 12 months of interest payments and fees charged by the lenders. This is called the Business Interruption Payment.

Small Businesses: Coronavirus

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what (a) grants and (b) other support, apart from the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, he plans to make available to medium-size businesses which are (a) run from home, (b) not being paid for their services during the covid-19 outbreak and (c) required to pay their suppliers in advance; and what guidance he plans to issue to banks that are awarding loans under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme on flexibility in administering that scheme for businesses that are under financial pressure as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

Kemi Badenoch: The Local Authority grants schemes have been designed to ensure that payments are made quickly and efficiently to small businesses facing particularly high fixed-property costs. Businesses which are not eligible for the grants may benefit from other measures in the Government’s unprecedented package of support for business, including: The Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS)The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS)The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS)The Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBL) for small and micro enterprisesVAT deferral for up to 12 monthsThe Time To Pay scheme, through which businesses and self-employed individuals in financial distress, and with outstanding tax liabilities, can receive support with their tax affairsA three-month mortgage holiday On 3 April the Government extended CBILS so that all viable small businesses affected by COVID-19, and not just those viable businesses unable to secure regular commercial financing, will now be eligible if the lender believes they will need finance to see them through these unprecedented times. This exceptional support is designed to enable all long-term viable businesses experiencing difficulties as a result of the coronavirus outbreak to access finance. The Government has also removed the forward-looking viability test, that required an assessment of whether the business can trade out of the crisis, and the per lender portfolio cap, to give lenders the full 80% guarantee across all CBILS lending. Finally, no lender can take a personal guarantee for a loan of less than £250,000. For loans over the value of £250,000, a personal guarantee can only be taken for 20% of the outstanding balance. However, a lender is not allowed to take a personal guarantee against a borrower's principle residence under the scheme.

Hospices: Scotland

Dr Philippa Whitford: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to his Department's news story entitled, Chancellor sets out extra £750 million coronavirus funding for frontline charities, published on 8 April 2020, what Barnett consequentials will accrue to the Scottish Government in relation to financial support for hospices in Scotland.

Steve Barclay: The UK government is applying the Barnett formula in the normal way to the additional funding for charities announced by the Chancellor, with the Scottish Government receiving at least £55 million in Barnett consequentials in relation to the £750 million package. Funding for charities is a devolved matter and it is for the Scottish Government to decide how to support charities in Scotland.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the effect on employees ineligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme because they were not added to their employers payroll on or before 19 March 2020.

Jesse Norman: Employees furloughed under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) must have been on their employers’ PAYE payroll on or before 19 March 2020 and HMRC must have received an RTI (Real Time Information) submission notifying payment in respect of that employee on or before the 19 March 2020. Those who are not eligible for this grant may have access to other Government support, including: a package of temporary welfare measures, with an increase in the Universal Credit standard allowance and Working Tax Credit basic element; an additional £500 million for local councils to support the most vulnerable people in society; and up to three-month mortgage payment holidays for those in difficulty with mortgage payments.

Companies: Coronavirus

Dan Carden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to make access to covid-19 support packages contingent on companies certifying that they are not involved in any reportable tax arrangements outlined in the International Tax Enforcement (Disclosable Arrangements) Regulations 2020.

Jesse Norman: The Government has introduced an unprecedented support package that is well targeted at the businesses and individuals who most need support, bearing in mind the need to act very quickly to protect livelihoods from the current crisis. The Government expects everyone to act responsibly and in the spirit of the package, and only to claim and use support as intended.

Revenue and Customs: Remote Working

Dan Carden: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many HMRC staff have the necessary IT equipment to work from home.

Jesse Norman: HMRC have made all possible provisions to ensure that they continue to collect the vital revenues that pay for public services and support those in need during this difficult time. Since the end of March, approximately 90% of the HMRC workforce has been working from home with the necessary equipment, with about 10% supported to safely work from an office environment owing to operational requirements. HMRC will keep this under review as and when the Government advice in response to COVID-19 evolves, ensuring that they protect the safety of their workforce and continue to deliver their vital public functions.

Small Businesses: Coronavirus

Sarah Olney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government is taking to protect small business owners that have given personal guarantees to (a) landlords and (b) other creditors but are unable to trade during the covid-19 outbreak.

Kemi Badenoch: If there are issues with paying rent, businesses should speak to their landlord about options for reprofiling or securing discounts. The Government has passed legislation that means that commercial leases are not automatically forfeited for non-payment of rent. This means that for all types of commercial tenants, the right of automatic forfeiture could not be put into effect for the relevant period. The relevant period is until 30th June, with an option for the Government to extend if needed.This change will support commercial tenants facing eviction because of an inability to pay rent by delaying the date from which a commercial tenancy may be forfeited for non-payment of rent. Businesses having trouble making other debt repayments should speak to their lenders at the earliest possible opportunity. Businesses impacted by COVID-19 may also benefit from a range of other support measures including:A 12-month business rates holiday for all eligible retail, leisure and hospitality businesses in EnglandSmall business grant funding of £10,000 for all business in receipt of small business rate relief or rural rate reliefA Discretionary Grant Fund for Local Authorities in England to make grants payments to businesses not eligible for the above schemesThe Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS)The Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBL) for small and micro enterprisesVAT deferral for up to 12 monthsThe Time To Pay scheme, through which businesses and self-employed individuals in financial distress, and with outstanding tax liabilities, can receive support with their tax affairs The Business Support website provides further information about how businesses can access the support that has been made available, who is eligible, when the schemes open and how to apply - https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support.

Service Industries: Non-domestic Rates

Fleur Anderson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether rehearsal studios and music sound equipment hire companies are classed as part of the leisure and hospitality sector for the purposes of receiving a business rates holiday; and what plans he has for those companies to receive support in line with the support available to pubs and live music events.

Jesse Norman: The Government has provided enhanced support to the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors through business rates relief given the direct and acute impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on those sectors. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has published guidance for local authorities on eligible properties. A range of further measures to support all businesses, including those not eligible for the business rates holiday, has also been made available. For example, the Government has launched the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to help firms keep people in employment, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme offering loans of up to £5 million for SMEs through the British Business Bank, and is deferring VAT payments for this quarter. The Government will consider any further financial assistance necessary to help businesses get through this period.

Flybe: Air Passenger Duty

Gavin Robinson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much in air passenger duty was outstanding from Flybe when the company entered administration.

Kemi Badenoch: The government takes tax compliance seriously, including recovering any unpaid taxation from companies in administration. However, HMRC has a duty of confidentiality and individual taxpayer information cannot be disclosed.

Charities: Coronavirus

Wes Streeting: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much of the £750 million Government financial support announced for charities in response to the covid-19 outbreak has been paid out; and to how many charities that funding has been allocated.

Kemi Badenoch: £360 million will be allocated by the Government directly to charities providing essential services and supporting vulnerable people. Up to £200 million will be allocated to hospices across the next quarter, and £76 million has been allocated for victims of domestic and sexual abuse and vulnerable children. Further allocations will follow shortly. £310 million will be allocated in England through the National Lottery Community Fund, with £60m allocated through the Barnett formula so the devolved administrations are funded to provide similar support in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The application process will be open to charities in the coming weeks.

Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund

Anne Marie Morris: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he plans to make wholesale food suppliers eligible for the Retail, Hospitality, and Leisure Grant.

Kemi Badenoch: The Government recognises that this is a very challenging time for businesses in a wide variety of sectors. Small businesses occupying properties for retail, hospitality or leisure purposes are likely to be particularly affected by Covid-19 due to their reliance on customer footfall, and the fact that they are less likely than larger businesses to have sufficient cash reserves to meet their high fixed property-related costs. The Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund is intended to help small businesses in this situation.  Wholesale food suppliers may be eligible for a discretionary grant from their Local Authority. On Friday 1 May, the Government announced that it would be making up to £617m of additional funding available to Local Authorities to enable them to make payments of up to £25,000 to businesses which have been excluded from the existing grants schemes because of the way they interact with the business rates system. The additional funds are aimed at small businesses with ongoing fixed property-related costs, and we are particularly asking Local Authorities to prioritise businesses in shared spaces; regular market traders; small charity properties that would meet the criteria for Small Business Rates Relief; and bed and breakfasts that pay council tax rather than business rates. Local Authorities may choose to make payments to other businesses, including wholesale food suppliers, based on local economic need. However, the priority of all the grants schemes continues to be to help the smallest businesses, and small businesses which are facing significant property-related costs and operate in sectors which have been particularly hard hit by the steep decline in customer footfall. Small businesses which are not eligible for business grants should still be able to benefit from other elements of the Government’s unprecedented package of support for business, including: An option to defer VAT payments by up to twelve months;The Bounce Back Loan scheme, which will ensure that small and micro businesses can quickly access loans of up to £50,000 which are 100% guaranteed by the Government;The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, now extended to cover all businesses including those which would be able to access commercial credit;The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, to support businesses with their wage bill;The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, to provide support to the self-employed.

Fuels: Excise Duties

Sir Mike Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of a temporary suspension of fuel duty for the logistics sector to ensure the financial viability of haulage businesses during the covid-19 pandemic.

Sir Mike Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an estimate of the cost to the public purse of suspending fuel duty for the logistics industry during the covid-19 pandemic.

Sir Mike Penning: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make a comparative assessment of the level of fuel duty derogations available for the logistics sector in each EU Member state; and whether those derogations can be applied in the the UK as part of the recovery from the covid-19 pandemic.

Kemi Badenoch: The Government recognises the extreme disruption to businesses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This is why the Government has announced unprecedented support for businesses, including a business rates holiday, grants to smaller businesses and a package of government-backed and guaranteed loans. The Government has also taken steps to specifically support the logistics sector and haulage businesses. Budget announced that fuel duty would be frozen for a tenth consecutive year, and that HGV VED and levy rates would also be frozen again in 2020-21. Haulage businesses have also benefitted from the reduced by price of fuel: diesel pump prices in the week of the 4th of May were down 20p per litre compared to a year ago.

Small Businesses: Coronavirus

Emma Hardy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he plans to inform local authorities of the amount they will receive from the Government for Small Business Relief Grants, including business not in receipt of Small Business Rate Relief.

Kemi Badenoch: The Small Business Grants Fund and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund are grants schemes funded by the Government and operated by Local Authorities to support small businesses during the Covid-19 crisis. Following a small cash advance in the final week of March, the Government transferred the remainder of the £12.3 billion allocated to the two business grants schemes to Local Authorities on 1 April. Of this £12.3 billion, £7.3 billion relates to the Small Business Grants Fund. As of 4 May, Local Authorities have made over £8.6 billion of Small Business Grants and Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants to over 697,000 business properties. Small businesses which have found themselves excluded from the SBGF and the RHLGF as a result of how they interact with the business rates system may be eligible for a discretionary grant from their Local Authority.On 1 May the Government announced that it would be making up to £617m of additional funding available to Local Authorities to enable them to make discretionary payments of up to £25,000 to businesses in this situation. The additional funds are aimed at small businesses with ongoing fixed property-related costs, and we are particularly asking Local Authorities to prioritise businesses in shared spaces; regular market traders; small charity properties that would meet the criteria for Small Business Rates Relief; and bed and breakfasts that pay council tax rather than business rates. Local Authorities may choose to make payments to other businesses, according to local economic need. However, the priority of all the grants schemes continues to be to help the smallest businesses, and small businesses which are facing significant property-related costs and operate in sectors which have been particularly hard hit by the steep decline in customer footfall. Small businesses which are not eligible for any of the business grants schemes should still be able to benefit from other elements of the Government’s unprecedented package of support for business, including: An option to defer VAT payments by up to twelve months;The Bounce Back Loan scheme, which will ensure that small and micro businesses can quickly access loans of up to £50,000 which are 100% guaranteed by the Government;The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, now extended to cover all businesses including those which would be able to access commercial credit;The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, to support businesses with their wage bill;The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, to provide support to the self-employed.

Revenue and Customs: Training

Hywel Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 29 April 2020 to Question 39478 on Revenue and Customs: Staff, what plans his Department has to increase the grant funding available for customs agent training as a result of the covid-19 pandemic.

Hywel Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 29 April 2020 to Question 39478 on Revenue and Customs: Staff, how many of the 50,000 customs agents target have been recruited as at May 2020.

Hywel Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 29 April 2020 to Question 39478 on Revenue and Customs: Staff, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of retraining people who have been made redundant due to covid-19 as customs agents.

Hywel Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 29 April 2020 to Question 39478 on Revenue and Customs: Staff, how many additional customs agents the Government plans to have (a) recruited and (b) retrained by December 2020.

Jesse Norman: A full range of business support measures has been made available to UK businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.Separately, the Government has made available £34m of funding to support the expansion of the customs intermediaries sector, including the development of an online customs academy to deliver training to the sector. The Government continues to work closely with industry to consider if further support is needed. The UK has a well-established industry of customs intermediaries which serve British businesses trading outside the EU. The sector is varied and consists of a number of different business models, including specific customs agents, freight forwarders and fast parcel operators; all of which will require differing numbers of staff. Government support of £34m has been designed to meet the needs of the sector to build capacity, covering training and IT innovation, as well as recruitment. The further expansion of the sector will require the recruitment and training of talented individuals from all backgrounds.

Buildings: Insulation

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps to prevent insurance companies from significantly increasing premiums for properties clad with non-ACM flammable materials.

John Glen: Insurers make decisions about the terms on which they will offer cover following an assessment of the relevant risks. This is usually informed by the insurer’s claims experience and other industry-wide statistics. The capabilities of insurers to assess risk is a key element on which they compete. This competition is important and should lead to better products and lower prices for consumers. However, the Government is aware of the concerns of those people in affected buildings. The Government has taken a number of steps that will have an impact on insurers’ risk assessments. Firstly, the Government announced that it would take steps to reform the building safety system, and will review the progress of removing unsafe ACM cladding from affected buildings. In addition, the Government has implemented measures such as providing £1 billion in 2020-21 to support the remediation of unsafe non-ACM cladding materials on high-rise buildings.More specifically on insurance, the Government announced that it will commission a review with the insurance industry to consider how Professional Indemnity Insurance can be provided to fire engineers and other construction professionals to ensure they have the confidence to advise on the fire risks associated with ACM cladding.

Buildings: Safety

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how much and what proportion of the funding allocated to the Building Safety Fund in the Budget 2020 has been allocated to private leaseholders to date.

Steve Barclay: The £1 billion Building Safety Fund will be open to social sector landlords and private sector building owners who cannot afford to remediate unsafe cladding on buildings over 18 metres. The split of funding will depend on the circumstances of the landlord / building owner who make successful applications to the fund when the bidding process opens later this year.

Airlines: Government Shareholding

Mr Ranil Jayawardena: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of the Government taking an equity stake in (a) British Airways and (b) other airlines that are domiciled for tax purposes in the UK.

Steve Barclay: The Government recognises the challenging times facing the aviation sector as a result of COVID-19 and firms experiencing difficulties as a result of COVID-19 can draw upon the unprecedented package of measures announced by the Chancellor, including schemes to raise capital, flexibilities with tax bills, and financial support for employees. As the Chancellor set out in his letter to the aviation sector, should individual firms still find themselves in difficulty after exhausting all other options, the Government is prepared to enter negotiations with them as a last resort. Any intervention would need to represent value for money for taxpayers.

Bounce Back Loan Scheme

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether businesses that have taken out a loan under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme are able to convert that loan into a Bounce Back Loan.

John Glen: All accredited lenders who have approved Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) so far will allow customers to transfer their loan into the Bounce Back Loan (BBL) scheme. The BBL scheme launched on 4 May. Transferring to a BBL loan will remove any repayments due in the first 12 months and incur a lower rate of interest than on CBILS facilities. However, consumer protections under these schemes differ, and businesses should discuss these with their lenders. Businesses do not need to request the transfer immediately. In order to enable lenders to focus on dealing with new applications first, there will be a window of 6 months for any transfer requests.

Self-employment Income Support Scheme: Maternity Leave

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he has taken to ensure that the Self-Employment Support Scheme does not indirectly discriminate against people taking maternity leave.

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what equalities impact assessment the Government has made of the effect of the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme on women that have taken maternity leave.

Jesse Norman: Claiming Maternity Allowance or taking parental leave does not mean that the trade has ceased, and therefore should not affect a person’s eligibility for the Self Employment Income Support Scheme as long as the individual intends to return to the trade after maternity/paternity/adoption leave. The Chancellor indicated that delivering a scheme for the self-employed is a very difficult operational challenge, particularly in the time available. There is no way for HMRC to know the reasons why an individual’s profits may have dropped in earlier years from income tax self-assessment returns. However, to help those with volatile income in 2018/19, an individual can determine their eligibility on either their profits in 2018-19, or on an average between 2016-17 to 2018-19. Anyone who submitted a tax return in 2018/19 will be eligible for the SEISS. The Government recognises that some people may not have submitted a 2018/19 return for a range of reasons, including due to parental leave. The scheme has been designed to deliver support as quickly as possible to millions of self-employed individuals by using information HMRC already holds, and any risks to the delivery of the scheme must be minimised.

Sole traders: Coronavirus

Rachael Maskell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether sole trader directors receiving a single dividend from their company can be included in the (a) Self-employment Income Support Scheme and (b) Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme if they submit their certificate of incorporation from Companies House.

Jesse Norman: The Government’s priority has been to support as many people as it can, as quickly as possible. The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) and the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) were designed to use information HMRC already holds, to ensure they could be delivered in a timely way and that the fraud risk is minimised. Income from dividends is a return on investment in the company, rather than wages, and is not eligible for support. Under current reporting mechanisms it is not possible for HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to distinguish between dividends derived from an individual’s own company and dividends from other sources, and between dividends in lieu of employment income and as returns from other corporate activity. Expanding the scope of these schemes would therefore require HMRC to collect and verify by hand new information, which would take much longer to deliver. It could put at risk the other schemes which the Government is committed to delivering as quickly as possible. These schemes supplement other significant, unprecedented financial support announced for individuals and UK businesses, including: the relaxation of the earnings rules (known as the Minimum Income Floor) in Universal Credit, the Bounce Back Loans Scheme for small businesses, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, and the deferral of tax payments. More information about the full range of business support measures is available at www.gov.uk/government/collections/financial-support-for-businesses-during-coronavirus-covid-19.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: Day Care

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether furloughed nursery staff are permitted to offer private nannying services.

Tulip Siddiq: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether furloughed workers under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme are entitled to earn additional money through work for (a) themselves and (b) another employer when their employment contract has a no moonlighting clause.

Jesse Norman: Furloughed workers are permitted to undertake work, either for themselves or another employer, so long as it does not make money for their employer’s organisation or any linked or associated organisation, or provide services for their employer’s organisation or any linked or associated organisation. If a furloughed worker’s contract permits it, the worker may undertake other employment while their current employer has placed them on furlough, and this will not affect the grant that can be claimed under the scheme. The worker will need to be able to return to work for the employer that has placed them on furlough if the employer decides to stop furloughing them, and they must be able to undertake any training the employer requires while on furlough.

Businesses: Government Assistance

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans his Department has to extend financial support during the covid-19 outbreak to businesses that do not pay business rates.

Kemi Badenoch: The Small Business Grant Fund and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund have helped many thousands of small businesses, which as of 4th May had received over £8.6 billion worth of grants. However, we are aware that many small businesses which are facing high fixed costs are finding themselves excluded from these grants schemes because the way they interact with the current business rates system means they are not eligible for the grants schemes. On Friday 1 May, the Government announced that it would be making up to £617m of additional funding available to Local Authorities to enable them to make payments of up to £25,000 to businesses in these situations. The discretionary funds will be administered by Local Authorities, who will ask businesses to apply for a grant. Local Authorities will receive guidance regarding which kinds of businesses should be considered a priority for these funds. It is the Government’s intention that the following businesses should be considered as a priority for these funds: Businesses in shared offices;Regular market traders who do not have their own business rates assessment;B&Bs which pay Council Tax instead of business rates; andCharity properties in receipt of charitable business rates relief which would otherwise have been eligible for Small Business Rates Relief or Rural Rate Relief. Local Authorities may also choose to pay grants to businesses outside of these areas, according to local economic need, so long as the grants are aimed at: Businesses with ongoing fixed building-related costsBusinesses which can demonstrate that they have suffered a significant fall in income due to the Covid-19 crisisBusiness with fewer than 50 employeesBusinesses that were trading on or before 11th March Businesses which are not eligible for any of the grants schemes should be able to benefit from other measures in the Government’s unprecedented package of support for business, including: An option to defer VAT payments by up to twelve months;The Bounce Back Loan scheme, which will ensure that small and micro businesses can quickly access loans of up to £50,000 which are 100% guaranteed by the Government;The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, now extended to cover all businesses including those which would be able to access commercial credit;The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, to support businesses with their wage bills.

Financial Services: Coronavirus

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that specialised social economy lenders are included as (a) Bounce Back Loans and (b) Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme accredited lenders.

Colum Eastwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will lower the minimum lending criteria under the Bounce Back Loan Scheme from £10 million per lender in order to ensure credit unions are able to provide loans.

John Glen: The Government has set out an unprecedented package of support for all businesses affected by this crisis, including the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) and Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS).There are currently 14 lenders offering loans under BBLS. More information on these partners can be found on the British Business Bank’s (BBB’s) website: https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/ourpartners/coronavirus-business-interruption-loan-schemes/bounce-back-loans/current-accredited-lenders-and-partners/. There are currently over 60 lenders offering finance under CBILS, with 22 new lenders having been accredited since the scheme launched. The list of accredited CBILS lenders can be found on the British Business Bank’s website: https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/ourpartners/coronavirus-business-interruption-loan-scheme-cbils-2/current-accredited-lenders-and-partners/. Any lender that wishes to become accredited under BBLS or CBILS should contact the BBB, who administer the scheme.

Zoos: Government Assistance

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans his Department has to support zoos and aquariums that are unable to furlough their employees.

Kemi Badenoch: The Government announced a package of support for licensed zoo or aquariums in England on May 4. These businesses can apply for a grant of up to £100,000. The amount received will be based on animals’ needs and can be used to cover animal-care costs such as:keepers’ wagesanimal feed and beddingveterinary care and medicineselectricity and heatingwaste removal Applications are being handled by The Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Further details are available here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-apply-for-the-zoos-support-fund. However, before applying for a grant these businesses must try to reduce costs or generate income in other ways, including applying for COVID-19 business support schemes and commercial and philanthropic funding. The Business Support website provides further information about how businesses can access the support that has been made available, who is eligible, when the schemes open and how to apply - https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support.

Tourist Attractions: Government Assistance

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans his Department has to provide financial support to visitor attractions that rely on a high income during summer months but are ineligible for covid-19 business support during to the covid-19 pandemic.

Kemi Badenoch: The Government has announced unprecedented support for business and workers to protect them against the current economic emergency including an initial £330 billion of guarantees – equivalent to 15% of UK GDP. Businesses in the leisure and tourism sector may benefit from the range of support measures made available, which includes:A 12-month business rates holiday for all eligible retail, leisure and hospitality businesses in EnglandSmall business grant funding of £10,000 for all business in receipt of small business rate relief or rural rate reliefA Discretionary Grant Fund for Local Authorities in England to make grants payments to businesses not eligible for the above schemesThe Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS)The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS)The Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS)The Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBL) for small and micro enterprisesVAT deferral for up to 12 monthsThe Time To Pay scheme, through which businesses in financial distress, and with outstanding tax liabilities, can receive support with their tax affairsProtection for commercial leaseholders against automatic forfeiture for non-payment until June 30, 2020 The Business Support website provides further information about how businesses can access the support that has been made available, who is eligible, when the schemes open and how to apply - https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-support.

Public Houses: Coronavirus

Daisy Cooper: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 4 May 2020 to Question 41174, whether he has entered into correspondence with (a) Star Pubs and Bars (Heineken), (b) Punch Taverns, (c) Greene King, (d) Marston's and (e) EI Group (Stonegate Pubs) on those companies continuing to charge rent to pub tenants during the covid-19 lockdown.

Jesse Norman: HM Treasury has received representations from a wide range of businesses and business representative organisations, including those in the beer and pub sector, on the Government’s coronavirus financial support package. Building on these measures, the Government has taken steps to protect commercial tenants from eviction as well as to safeguard UK high streets against aggressive debt recovery actions during the coronavirus pandemic. Commercial rents policy is led by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will provide specific guidance on the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme for umbrella employers and employees; and whether employees of umbrella companies can be furloughed.

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that agency workers employed by umbrella companies can access financial support following the outbreak of covid-19.

Jesse Norman: The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is open to any employer providing they have: created and started a PAYE payroll scheme on or before 19 March 2020; enrolled for PAYE online; a UK bank account. Employers can claim for employees on any type of employment contract, providing they were employed on 19 March 2020 and were on the employer’s PAYE payroll on or before 19 March 2020. As well as employees, the grant can be claimed for other groups, such as agency workers employed by umbrella companies, where the workers are paid through PAYE. Full guidance can be found at www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wage-costs-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme. Those not eligible for this scheme may have access to other support Government is providing, including a package of temporary welfare measures and up to three-month mortgage payment holidays for those in difficulty with mortgage payments.

Government Assistance: Coronavirus

Stella Creasy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of (a) removing the £51,000 limit on retail, hospitality and leisure grants and (b) directing local authorities that supply chain businesses are eligible for rate relief and business support.

Kemi Badenoch: The Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund has been designed to support small businesses in some of the sectors hit hardest by the measures taken to prevent the spread of Covid-19. In order to ensure that payments can be made quickly and efficiently to businesses which are facing particularly high fixed costs, the scheme is tied to the business rates system. Under the business rates system, small businesses are defined as those with a rateable value below £51,000. The Government continues to review the economic situation and consider what support businesses need. However, there are currently no plans to extend the grants scheme above the £51,000 limit. The Government recognises that this is a very challenging time for businesses in a wide variety of sectors. Small businesses occupying properties for retail, hospitality or leisure purposes are likely to be particularly affected by Covid-19 due to their reliance on customer footfall, and the fact that they are less likely than larger businesses to have sufficient cash reserves to meet their high fixed property-related costs. The Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund is intended to help small businesses in this situation. On Friday 1 May, the Government announced that it would be making up to £617m of additional funding available to Local Authorities to enable them to make payments of up to £25,000 to businesses which have been excluded from the existing grants schemes because of the way they interact with the business rates system. Local Authorities can choose to make discretionary grants to businesses in the supply chains of these sectors if they feel there is a particular local economic need. However, the priority of all the grants schemes continues to be to help the smallest businesses, and small businesses which are facing significant property-related costs and operate in sectors which have been particularly hard hit by the steep decline in customer footfall. Businesses which are not eligible for the grants schemes should still be able to benefit from other measures in the Government’s unprecedented package of support for business, including: A twelve-month business rates holiday for all retail, hospitality and leisure businesses, regardless of rateable value;An option to defer VAT payments by up to twelve months;The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, now extended to cover all businesses including those which would be able to access commercial credit;The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, to support businesses with their wage bills;The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, to provide support to the self-employed.

Self-employment Income Support Scheme

Munira Wilson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to support people who have recently become self-employed and are therefore ineligible for the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme.

Jesse Norman: It has not been possible to include those who began trading after the 2018-19 tax year in the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme. This was a very difficult decision and it was taken for practical reasons. The Government recognises that those who started trading more recently will not have submitted a tax return for the 2018-19 tax year, and it considered alternative approaches. HMRC would not be able to distinguish genuine self-employed individuals who started trading in 2019-20 from fake applications by fraudulent operators and organised criminal gangs seeking to exploit the SEISS. Those who entered self-employment after April 2019 may still be eligible for other support. For example, the self-employed can benefit from the Government’s relaxation of the earnings rules (known as the Minimum Income Floor) in Universal Credit. The SEISS supplements the significant support already announced for UK businesses, including the Bounce Back Loan Scheme for small businesses, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, and the deferral of tax payments. More information about the full range of business support measures is available at www.gov.uk/government/collections/financial-support-for-businesses-during-coronavirus-covid-19.

Charities: Government Assistance

Anna McMorrin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department is taking to ensure environmental charities are financially supported during the covid-19 outbreak.

Anna McMorrin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps the Government plans to take to support environmental charities that have experienced reduced income and capacity to deliver on the Government’s environmental objectives as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.

Anna McMorrin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether emergency Government funding will be made available to environmental charities during the covid-19 outbreak.

Kemi Badenoch: Environmental charities make a valuable contribution to the Government’s environmental agenda, through conservation of the natural environment; engaging people in the natural world; and providing access to our beautiful landscapes and coastlines. The Government will continue to work with these organisations on shared objectives during and after the Covid-19 outbreak. There is no specific financial support available solely to environmental charities. However, environmental charities may benefit from a number of the business support schemes the Government has launched. These include VAT deferrals, Small Business Grant Funding, business rates holidays for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses, and the Job Retention Scheme. Full details of the unprecedented support the Government has made available are available at https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/business-support.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Young People

Sara Britcliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment the Government has made of the potential merits of creating a Minister for Young People.

Mr John Whittingdale: Decisions on Ministerial remits and duties lie with the Prime Minister. A range of government departments (including DCMS) have policies that affect young people, and that is why the government believes there should be a cross-departmental approach. This government is committed to supporting young people to have a voice on issues and concerns that matter to them, at both a local and national level. DCMS leads this work, and funds the British Youth Council (BYC) to deliver a youth voice programme including the UK Youth Parliament, the Make Your Mark ballot, the Youth Select Committee, The Government’s Youth Steering Group and the Young Inspectors group. Officials are working collaboratively across Whitehall, with the youth sector, and young people to ensure that we support our young people during and post Covid-19, and that their voices are heard.

Newspaper Press: Coronavirus

Carla Lockhart: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of subsidising newspapers to provide online copy to people self-isolating on medical grounds during the covid-19 outbreak.

Mr John Whittingdale: The Government recognises the vital role of newspapers in supporting communities and isolated individuals by ensuring the provision of reliable, high-quality information throughout the current pandemic. Safeguarding the UK’s news media at this time of financial instability is a key priority for Government and we are in constant dialogue with publishers to ensure that our response to the challenges they are facing is as effective as it can be. With schools closed and the nation confined to their homes during lockdown, millions have been relying on e-publications to help home school their children, keep up to date with the latest news and to pass the time. To support this, the Chancellor has brought forward the zero rating on e-publications. The zero rate of VAT will now apply to all e-publications from the 1st May - seven months ahead of schedule. The Government expects the tax relief to be passed on to consumers in the form of reduced prices for online copies. The Government will continue to consider all possible options in the interests of promoting and sustaining high-quality news journalism. Never have the activities of journalists been more popular and critical; providing quality news to all, including those self-isolating, and binding communities together, a fundamental function of our modern day democracy.

Arts: Coronavirus

Dr Ben Spencer: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport what discussions he has had on steps being taken to support the (a) TV, (b) film and (c) other creative industries during the covid-19 pandemic.

Caroline Dinenage: The Government recognises broadcasting, film and other creative industries have an important role to play in the UK by providing access to entertainment, culture and news during the COVID-19 pandemic. To ensure we are assisting the sectors as effectively as possible, regular ministerially-chaired roundtables are held with business representative organisations (BROs) as well as trade associations within the creative industries and broadcasting sectors. In addition, officials are in regular contact with stakeholders from these sectors. We also continue to speak with HM Treasury colleagues to ensure that the full spectrum of government support reaches the UK's world-leading media and creative industries.

Local Press: Delivery Services

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on ensuring that community publications can be delivered by (a) local deliverers and (b) delivery companies under social distancing guidance.

Mr John Whittingdale: The government considers continued access to quality news, including via community publications, to be vitally important at the current time. My officials and I are working closely with publishers to ensure that we are aware of any issues with delivery and are responding to concerns as a matter of urgency, including, where appropriate, raising issues with Cabinet colleagues. For the most part delivery is able to continue as normal under social distancing guidance. Journalists and ancillary staff (including those responsible for delivery) have been recognised by the government as key workers and can continue to travel as necessary for work. Where newspapers are delivered by young people of school age it is up to local authorities to decide whether this should continue, and safeguarding children’s wellbeing is rightly their priority. However, the Department for Education has advised local authorities to take account of employers’ measures to safeguard young workers and whether these are enough to address any safeguarding concerns.

Arts: Coronavirus

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture Media and Sport what assessment the Department has made of the proportion of (a) people and (b) businesses in the creative sector that do not qualify for any of the Government's covid-19 support measures.

Caroline Dinenage: No such assessment has been made. However, we appreciate that the Covid-19 pandemic presents a significant challenge to many of DCMS’ sectors including the Creative Industries which is why the government has announced unprecedented support for business and workers to protect them against the current economic emergency. To ensure we are assisting the sectors as effectively as possible, regular ministerially-chaired roundtables are held with business representative organisations as well as trade associations from across the Creative Industries. In addition, officials are in regular contact with stakeholders from these sectors, and we continue to speak with HM Treasury colleagues to ensure that the full spectrum of government support reaches the UK's world-leading media and Creative Industries.

Arts: Coronavirus

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of businesses in the creative sector with a turnover of less than £6.5 million that do not qualify for the (a) Small Business Grant, (b) Retailers, Hospitality and Leisure Grant and (c) Business Rate holiday.

Caroline Dinenage: No such estimate has been made. However, we appreciate that the Covid-19 pandemic presents a significant challenge to many of DCMS’ sectors including the Creative Industries which is why the government has announced unprecedented support for business and workers to protect them against the current economic emergency. This includes new discretionary business grants worth £600m, in addition to any surplus from previous grants that councils have left over, which councils can allocate to businesses that may not have been able to qualify for the initial round of grants. To ensure we are assisting the sectors as effectively as possible, regular ministerially-chaired roundtables are held with business representative organisations as well as trade associations from across the Creative Industries. In addition, officials are in regular contact with stakeholders from these sectors, and we continue to speak with HM Treasury colleagues to ensure that the full spectrum of government support reaches the UK's world-leading media and Creative Industries.

Angling: Coronavirus

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment the Government has made of the safety of resuming coarse angling, whilst maintaining social distancing, during the covid-19 outbreak.

Nigel Huddleston: It is vital that people continue to be active during the Covid-19 outbreak to support their physical and mental healthGovernment advice on how people can remain active is clear. People are able to leave home for basic exercise once a day, for example for a walk, a cycle or a run, provided it is done in a way that meets the latest guidance on social distancing and advice on unnecessary social contact. This means it can be done by people on their own or with their households, not in groups. It is important that people do not go outside unless they have to, and that when they do, they are spending as little time outside as possible, and avoiding unnecessary travel.Government is carefully reviewing the lockdown guidance over the coming days and weeks.

Cultural Heritage: Railways

Liz Saville Roberts: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what support for Heritage Railways in the UK her Department and HM Treasury have agreed since 8 April 2020.

Nigel Huddleston: We recognise the extremely difficult circumstances which heritage and tourism businesses, including heritage railways, are currently facing across the country as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. To assist in mitigating this impact, the Chancellor has announced an extensive financial support package for business and workers in the current economic emergency. The Heritage Alliance, of which the Heritage Railway Association is a member, is represented at weekly Ministerial teleconferences with DCMS, in order to communicate members’ issues and concerns to Government to help us to seek solutions and mitigations. Heritage railways may wish to apply for further support from the Heritage Emergency Fund, a £50million scheme launched by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to support the heritage sector through the Covid-19 pandemic. They may also want to approach Historic England, who have announced a £2million programme of grants for smaller, specialist organisations and projects.

Voluntary Work

Ben Lake: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 4 May 2020 to Question 41576, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on enabling furloughed workers employed by faith-based organisations to participate in activities usually undertaken by volunteers in their faith community.

Mr John Whittingdale: DCMS is working with other Government departments and the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector to identify areas where volunteers can contribute to the COVID-19 response. The purpose of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is to support people who would otherwise have been made redundant. To prevent fraudulent claims, the Government has made clear that furloughed individuals cannot continue to work or volunteer for their organisation.

Disadvantaged: Coronavirus

Neil Coyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions his Department has had with internet providers to examine how to ensure isolated or disadvantaged families are able to access essential online services and help during the covid-19 pandemic.

Matt Warman: The telecoms sector has undertaken a significant amount of work over recent years to prepare for a pandemic. DCMS is working closely with the main broadband providers to ensure the network remains stable and continues to have sufficient capacity for the increases in home-working and remote learning the country has seen as a part of its response to Covid-19. My Department has brokered an agreement with the telecoms sector to ensure vulnerable consumers have access to critical services online. More details can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-agrees-measures-with-telecoms-companies-to-support-vulnerable-consumers-through-covid-19.

Museums and Galleries: Coronavirus

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what financial support his Department has made available to (a) museums and (b) art galleries during the covid-19 outbreak.

Caroline Dinenage: My department is in constant contact with sector bodies and museums directly to assess impacts and are working to develop support for the sector in response to COVID-19. We are also in close contact with counterparts in the devolved nations with culture being a devolved matter. Significant support has been delivered at speed by DCMS arm’s-length bodies. Arts Council England having launched a £160m Emergency Funding Package, the National Lottery Heritage Fund launching a £50m Heritage Emergency Fund, and Historic England launching a £2m Emergency Fund. All of which are delivering support across the sector.We are also pleased that there has already been support pledged for the sector including through the Job Retention Scheme and the availability of grants of up to £25,000 to leisure businesses, including museums operating from smaller premises through the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund. The Government continues to monitor the impact of these and other measures.

Disinformation: Coronavirus

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what resources have been allocated to tackling the spread of misinformation on covid-19.

Caroline Dinenage: In support of the Government’s central Covid-19 response, the Counter Disinformation Unit stood up on 5 March 2020. The Unit brings together cross-government capabilities, including monitoring, analysis and strategic communications. It includes teams in DCMS, the Home Office, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and the Cabinet Office. The capability is resourced full time through existing cross-government teams. We have reallocated staff from within the Department to treble the size of the team at DCMS.

Sports: Coronavirus

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what process the Government is using to provide sporting organisations overseeing elite sports with up to date medical advice in relation to covid-19; and what discussions the Government is having with those organisations on the medical advice they receive.

Nigel Huddleston: In addition to publicly available Government advice/guidance, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is holding weekly meetings with senior medical officials and sport representatives to discuss key issues around Covid-19 and communicates regularly with stakeholders across the sporting sector to share the latest advice. We will maintain these discussions as elite sport develops its plans to retain training and to restart competition.

Rugby: Government Assistance

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many rugby league clubs have (a) applied for and (b) received funding from Government backed business support loans.

Nigel Huddleston: The Government announced on 30 April that the Rugby Football League (RFL) will receive an emergency loan of £16 million to safeguard the immediate future of the sport for the communities it serves. The Government recognises the impact that covid-19 is having on the sporting sector. The Chancellor has announced an unprecedented package of measures to help businesses in this period, including £330 billion worth of government-backed and guaranteed loans to support businesses across the UK. Those support measures, including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, and Self-Employed Income Support Scheme are open to businesses across the UK and in every sector, including Sport. In addition, Sport England, has also announced £195 million of funding to help sport and physical activity organisations deal with the short and long term effects of the pandemic.The RFL is fully engaged with the process and is ensuring that the sport as a whole is aware of the assistance available and how to access support. It is a matter for individual clubs to pursue the support appropriate for their situation.We know this is a challenging period for all sports and we continue to work closely with the whole sector to understand the issues they face and how we can best support them through this difficult time.

Sports: Health Hazards

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether the Government has assessed the health risks of (a) cricket and (b) other non-contact sports resuming in the summer at grassroots level.

Nigel Huddleston: The government is in regular contact with representatives of sports, including cricket, to discuss both the impact of Covid-19 on sports and to explore how and when grassroots sport can safely resume once lockdown restrictions start to ease. The government has asked individual sports to consider the steps that would need to be taken, and the conditions that would need to be met, for their activity to resume. The government has been clear that any return to sport will need to be consistent with existing guidelines on public health and managed in a way that minimises risk.

Cricket: Coronavirus

Alison McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many cricket clubs have (a) applied for and (b) been awarded business support grant funding from the Government during the covid-19 outbreak.

Nigel Huddleston: The Government recognises the impact that covid-19 is having on the sporting sector. The Chancellor has announced an unprecedented package of measures to help businesses in this period, including £330 billion worth of government-backed and guaranteed loans to support businesses across the UK. The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, and Self-Employed Income Support Scheme support measures are open to businesses across the UK and in every sector, including Sport. In addition, Sport England, has also announced £195 million of funding to help sport and physical activity organisations deal with the short and long term effects of the pandemic.The England and Wales Cricket Board is fully engaged with the process and is ensuring that the sport as a whole is aware of the assistance available and how to access support. It is a matter for individual clubs to pursue the support appropriate for their situation. We know this is a challenging period for all sports and we continue to work closely with the whole sector to understand the issues they face and how we can best support them through this difficult time.

Charities: Coronavirus

Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the financial effect of the covid-19 outbreak on (a) Age-concern, (b) other county-based charities and (c) large charities; what assessment he has made of the contribution of such charities to the delivery of front-line services to vulnerable elderly people; and if he will urgently make it his policy to allow larger charities that are continuing to deliver front-line services to benefit from support from the National Lottery Community Fund.

Mr John Whittingdale: We recognise the huge value that charities like Age-UK are providing to the Covid-19 response as they provide advice and support to over 8.5 million older people who have been told to self-isolate.My department is continuing to monitor the health of the sector, its contribution to the nation’s Covid-19 response and the financial impacts on charities, including Age-UK and other county-based charities, and is establishing mechanisms to collate robust and ongoing insights. The £750 million VCSE support package is available to support all charities - large or small - at risk of financial hardship that are providing key frontline services to vulnerable people affected by the pandemic.Government remains committed to ongoing data collation and in depth engagement with the voluntary sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. We will continue to work closely to assess how we can support charities in doing their important work.We are working at pace to finalise the grant agreement, processes and criteria for the fund this week, with a view to launch as soon as possible.

Broadband: Rural Areas

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of working from home during the covid-19 lockdown on the quality of rural broadband.

Matt Warman: Overall, the UK's broadband network has stood up well to mass home working and leisure usage as a result of COVID-19, including in rural areas. This is a result of the contingency planning that the Government has done with industry and also the Government's £1.7 billion superfast broadband programme, which has ensured that 96% of UK premises have access to superfast broadband. However, the Government recognises that rural coverage lags behind the rest of the UK, which is why we legislated to create the first-ever broadband Universal Service Obligation, which went live in March 2020. The scheme allows everyone in the UK to request a decent broadband connection of at least 10 megabits per second from a designated universal service provider, up to a reasonable cost threshold of £3,400. At Budget, we also committed to invest £5 billion to roll out gigabit broadband in the hardest to reach areas of the UK. At present, our £200 million Rural Gigabit Connectivity programme remains open, offering voucher-based support for eligible consumers to request gigabit-capable connections from a variety of providers.

Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission

UK Membership of EU: Referendums

Mr Peter Bone: To ask the hon. Member for City of Chester, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, how much the Electoral Commission levied in penalties on (a) leave and (b) remain campaign organisations that participated in the 2016 EU referendum.

Christian Matheson: The Commission is responsible for regulating political finance in the UK. This includes making assessments of evidence of possible offences and, where there is evidence that an offence may have been committed, conducting investigations and imposing penalties.In relation to the EU Referendum, The Commission conducted 34 investigations relating to leave campaigners and imposed fines on 19, totalling £149,450 after appeal outcomes. It conducted 19 investigations relating to remain campaigners and imposed fines on 15, totalling £67,600.

UK Membership of EU: Referendums

Mr Peter Bone: To ask the hon. Member for City of Chester, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, how many court cases the Electoral Commission was involved in relating to (a) leave and (b) remain campaign organisations in the 2016 EU referendum; and how much expenditure the Commission incurred in each case.

Christian Matheson: The Electoral Commission was directly involved in eight court cases in which registered campaigners for the leave outcome in the 2016 EU referendum were also involved. In all instances the cases were initiated by others, and in all but one the decisions of the Commission were upheld or substantially upheld by the court, or the case was settled or discontinued. In those cases where the Commission’s decision was upheld or substantially upheld by the court, the Commission has recovered costs.The Electoral Commission was involved in no court cases relating to registered campaigners for the remain outcome.It is not currently possible to provide a breakdown of the Commission’s expenditure by case; some of the costs are still in the process of being identified as payable, and some of the costs still need to be taken account of, owing to the recent conclusion of some cases.